LA Lakers Player JaVale McGee Says He’s Vegan Because It Helps His Performance!

JaVale McGee, starting for the Los Angeles Lakers last season, is already making impressive headway as a professional basketball player. Just last season, within 20 minutes, he was able to score 17 points and follow through with 7 rebounds. McGee says that he was able to play like that because his teammates are incredible passers, but he also has another secret that helped to improve his game. McGee works to better his performance and lobs at the rim by focusing on an intensive workout routine, and following a vegan diet!

McGee explains that he’s modeled his game around his vegan diet. He elaborates that, “I workout. I’m a vegan because of that, I like to stay skinny. I like to sprint, I like to run up and down the floor. That’s what I model my game after just being able to get up and down the floor and catch lobs and stay light.”

Anyone can recognize that McGee certainly is light on his feet, is capable of sprinting up and down the court, and can effortlessly dunk the ball, and his vegan diet and workout routine are definitely lending a helping hand to that.

Lakers’ coach, Luke Walton, is very impressed with his performance and says, “With his size, and length, and feel for the game, whenever he’s in and rolling to the rim, he puts pressure on that rim.”

It seems that more and more athletes are discovering the benefits of a vegan diet and using it to their advantage!

Are you looking for high-protein vegan meals?

Here are some plant-powered meals that are not only delicious, but perfect fuel for before or after a workout from our Food Monster App!

Raw Hemp Chia Seed Bars

Image Source: Raw Hemp Chia Seed Bars

These hemp protein bars by Emily von Euw are not only an incredible source of protein, but of calcium, fiber, and healthy fats! These are perfect to pack in your workout bag, for a quick snack.

Banana Split Oatmeal with Roasted Almonds

Image Source: Banana Split Oatmeal with Roasted Almonds

Oatmeal is perfect for the vegan athlete because it’s loaded with b vitamins, magnesium, protein, and iron! This Banana Split Oatmeal with Roasted Almonds by Natalie Yonan is a great choice!

Teriyaki Glazed Tofu Steaks

Image Source: Teriyaki Glazed Tofu Steaks

These teriyaki tofu steaks by Maya Sozer are the perfect high protein meal that can be paired with healthy carbs like brown rice. They can also be marinated ahead of time and thrown on the skillet whenever you’re ready to eat!

For more like The Ultimate Guide to Being a Vegan Athlete, we recommend downloading our Food Monster App, which is available for both Android and iPhone and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has more than 10,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to new recipes every day. Check it out! 

Lead Image Source: Keith Allison/Flickr