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Mavericks' McGee sidelined for season opener

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Mavericks will be without center JaVale McGee when they open the season against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.

McGee, who is still recovering from a stress fracture that sidelined him for most of the past two seasons, is listed as out against the Suns, Paul Coro of AZ Central reports.

The Mavericks signed McGee in the wake of the failed (and meticulously chronicled) chase for DeAndre Jordan. The 27-year-old joined Dallas on a partially guaranteed two-year deal and is expected to battle veteran Zaza Pachulia for starts alongside Dirk Nowitzki, but McGee continues to be ransacked with injuries.

When he does regain his health, McGee is hoping to "get back to that elite level," which presumably means picking up the form he displayed in 2012-13 with the Denver Nuggets. That year, McGee played in 79 games for a 57-win team while posting impressive per-36 averages of 18 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks.

However, due mostly to his leg injury and an endless string of embarrassing on-court gaffs, McGee has been an afterthought over the past two seasons, which spans just 28 games played.

Last season, McGee averaged 4.6 points and 0.9 blocks between stints with the Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers before getting waived in March.

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