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Nuggets to get JaVale McGee back by the end of the week

Chris Humphreys / USA Today Sports

#JUGLIFE is set to ride once again.

The Denver Nuggets are expecting injured center JaVale McGee to return to action this week, either Wednesday or Friday, The Denver Post's Christopher Dempsey reports. The preseason action will mark Pierre's first run since Nov. 8 of last season, when he was sidelined with a stress fracture in his left tibia.

"I'm excited, really excited," McGee said. "It's been a long time since I played in a real game."

McGee has taken part in full practices multiple times in the past week, and the pain in his leg is reportedly down to a minimum. While he'll play under a minutes restriction, it's now thought that McGee could be in the lineup when the Nuggets open their season on Oct. 29.

In 2012-13, McGee averaged 9.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and two blocks for the Nuggets, a disappointing output given the four-year, $44-million deal he signed the summer prior. Still just 26 years old, the Nuggets hope he can deliver on the promise that saw them surrender Nene to get him in 2012.

For his career, McGee has averaged 15.3 points, 10 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per 36 minutes, but hasn't been able to sustain that pace over a large workload, averaging just 20.5 minutes.

Unrelated to his health, here's a McGee storm trooper he posted on Instagram:

DENVER THUGGETS STORM TROOPER!

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