Former NBA journeyman JaVale McGee has become a fan favourite since joining the Illawarra Hawks in the National Basketball League.
The three-time NBA champion and Olympic gold medallist has been a dominant force on the court this season as one of the Hawks' imports, and a drawcard wherever the team plays.
Speaking on Tuesday, McGee, 38, told the Mercury he'd been enjoying living in Wollongong, with the beach, food and weather the highlights.
Read more: Wollongong apartment sales kick off the year with $4m transaction
Getting invested
The blockbusting seven-foot centre is also an avid investor.
McGee said property investment had been a passion of his, "until a little thing called Bitcoin came around".
"I have properties in America, that I bought a while ago," he said.
"But buying new properties, unless it's multi-family, that's not really in my wheelhouse [these days]."
So, no plans to buy a property in Australia?
"No, the obligation of everything that comes with a property, and the management of doing it across a whole other continent... The problems that come with living in the same state and owning property is kinda hectic [on its own]," he said.
'High growth rate'
McGee's investing interests may lie elsewhere these days, but he has made some significant purchases in the property world.
What does he look for when buying a property?
"High growth rate, great cities, and hopefully the rent is higher than what the mortgage is, but with interest rates the way they are right now that's kinda hard to find," he said.
"There's so much that depends on the economy and how things are going when it comes to real estate.
"In 2020, interest rates were at like three per cent [in the US]. I don't know how interest rates are out here, but that was a great time to buy real estate.
"When interest rates went up to six, seven [per cent] it was, 'okay, I don't know if it's good to buy'."
McGee's property history
In 2014, McGee, then playing for the Denver Nuggets, bought a condo on the Las Vegas Strip.
McGee paid $800,000 for the condo at Panorama Towers.
The 2406 square foot condo, located on the 21st floor, has two bedrooms, each with a full bathroom, and boasted eye-catching views of Vegas.
In 2015, McGee listed the property for sale with an asking price of $849,900, although there are no reports of a sale occurring.
In 2020, just days after winning an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, McGee sold his Encino home for $2.49 million.
In 2015, McGee bought the Mediterranean-style retreat from singer Marc Anthony for $2.42 million.
The property is behind two sets of gates and centres on a three-storey home of nearly 6300 square feet.
Palm trees and string lights top a resort-style space with a swimming pool, spa, gazebo, shower room and cabana with a bar.
Other features of the five-bedroom, nine-bathroom home included a formal dining room, plus a movie theatre with a bar and a gym with mirrored walls.
There are also reports McGee bought and sold a property in Texas.
