The Real-Life Diet of JaVale McGee, Vegan

Of all the outlandish personalities in the Golden State Warriors—a team that includes both Draymond Green and Nick Young—JaVale McGee might be the most interesting. In addition to his rim-protection and lob-conversion duties, McGee is also: the tallest techie you’ll ever come across, a fanny-pack enthusiast, host of the very entertaining “Parking Lot Chronicles” YouTube show on Kevin Durant's channel and, as of last year, a full-time vegan.

His curiosity in veganism started a few years ago when he began researching a way to drop weight to help limit the stress on his legs. After seeing how his body responded throughout last season’s championship run, he made the decision last summer to go all in. We sat down with McGee to talk about how he eats.

GQ: What went into your decision to go vegan?
JaVale McGee: It was probably like two to three years ago. I went vegan for a couple of months, just to lose weight immediately. It wasn’t for the moral aspect back then. It was more because once you go vegan, it sheds the bad fat real fast. I do that before the season, but I’ve been fully vegan for about five to six months now since the season started, and probably a month before.

Is the moral aspect a reason you decided to go full vegan this time?
When I do things, I just fully commit to it. I feel like there is no point in half-assing. I just do it, and if I don’t like it, I just stop doing it. It’s been good. I was losing weight and getting more cut, as you can see, and I just felt really good.

There are a few players currently that are reaching out to other guys who are vegan to get insight because of the benefits. What research did you do?
Just the Internet. I just looked at all the pros and cons of what it would mean for me, and the pros outweighed the cons. I just tried it, and it has been working for me. It’s an adjustment, but it’s really not that big of one once you stop thinking of all the things you won’t be able to eat.

Did you speak with former teammate Wilson Chandler on any part of making the switch?
I spoke to John Salley, but he’s on a whole different level. I’m nowhere near his level of commitment. He doesn’t even eat his food hot, like not even warmed up. I forgot the name of what that’s called. What’s the name of the type of vegans when you don’t heat your food up?

Andre Iguadala interjects: "Raw vegan."

Raw vegan! There we go. That’s a totally different level. I’m not that dedicated. [laughs] Being vegan isn’t hard, especially because I live in L.A. during the summer and there are a lot of vegan restaurants and options there. Once you find substitutes for things you like, it’s pretty manageable from there.

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Your game is built on energy, and one of the first things athletes who have gone vegan mention is how much energy they feel. Did you notice this immediately?
You definitely notice it immediately. You just feel really good, lighter. And there is a lot more energy you have throughout the day. For me, it’s been good from that aspect.

What are you normally eating on game days?
For breakfast, I’ll have some oatmeal, avocado toast, and a shake. For lunch, it’s usually a salad with sunflower seeds, cucumbers, celery, and a lot of vegetables. Dinner is usually just pasta with mushrooms.

Why do you think there are more athletes now choosing to go vegan?
I just feel like people now are trying to get as healthy as possible and avoid certain illnesses and ailments. [Going vegan] is definitely one way to help getting as healthy as you possibly can. I believe that everyone wants to be in tip-top shape and be mentally and physically healthy. They also want to eat better.

Is it easier now finding vegan spots when you’re on the road and getting in town late?
If you go to a major city, they usually have some nice spots that have some good options. Room-service options are very scarce, to say the least, and it’s one of the things I think will change sooner than later. You have to be really specific when you’re ordering your food through room service, like, "Gimme some asparagus but absolutely no butter." That needs to change, seriously. [laughs] That’s really the only hassle, but you take it with choosing the lifestyle and you find ways to adjust.