Reporters and fans love to chuckle at his on-court goofiness. Examples abound, but here's the best one: a legendary GIF of McGee throwing up a wild shot and then earnestly running back on defense -- except his team still has the ball.
This week, however, McGee decided to turn the tables on those who love to poke fun at a young millionaire basketball player just trying to do his best. On Monday afternoon, he posted this tweet to his 57,000 Twitter followers:
Just copped a pet platypus .... #swag— Pierre McGee (@JaValeMcGee34) May 14, 2012
He followed that up with this picture:
twitter.com/JaValeMcGee34/…— Pierre McGee (@JaValeMcGee34) May 14, 2012
McGee's NBA coworker Marreese Speights was duly intrigued. So McGee continued hyping his new pets:
“@Mospeights16: @JaValeMcGee34 what is that bro ?”my pet platypus' on deck lmao— Pierre McGee (@JaValeMcGee34) May 14, 2012
Fans also took a lot of interest in McGee's platypus, sending him congratulations, criticism and tweets of admiration. McGee continued to tweet about the trials and tribulations of a platypus owner. He named his pets Peter and Paul, he said. But apparently, the platypus is a dangerous and poisonous animal that turned his hand "Barney purple."
Sports media -- including a Washington, D.C., Gannett affiliate -- eventually picked up the story.
Then McGee closed his trap with a Wednesday tweet reading, "Jokes up!!!!!!!" Next, he chastised the media with these tweets:
I can believe I fooled fans into believing I bought some platypus' but reporters?— Pierre McGee (@JaValeMcGee34) May 15, 2012
Media: u guys didn't check ur sources before writing the story? All u had to do is go to google images...Smh...Sbn...Some others n dc. SHAME— Pierre McGee (@JaValeMcGee34) May 15, 2012
Boom! Better luck next time, media. But Denver area sportscaster Vic Lombardi spoke for many when he replied to McGee's Twitter scolding with this tweet:
@JaValeMcGee34 You definitely had me. You just come across as the type of fella who would enjoy the company of a platypus.— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) May 15, 2012