After a meniscus injury derailed his momentum in Philadelphia, the former Duke standout heads to the Thunder for a career reset.
Filipino American shooting guard Jared McCain has found a new home with the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who added even more young talent to their roster at the trade deadline.
With McCain tied to a four-year $19.5M rookie contract, the move offers significant upside for the Thunder, as he has the potential to provide value far exceeding his price tag. For McCain, his departure from Philadelphia marks a career reset following a turbulent sophomore campaign.
After a meniscus tear cut his rookie year short, McCain found the road to recovery to be steeper than expected. A 35% decrease in playing time made it difficult for him to find any offensive rhythm as he worked to regain his explosive scoring ability with the 76ers. Subsequently, his scoring average plummeted to 6.6 points per game, a sharp fall from his pre-injury mark of 15.3. He went ice-cold upon his return in November, going 0-for-9 in his first four games. The sophomore slump persisted with a shooting percentage of just 38.5%.
Before his injury sidelined him in December 2024, McCain’s performance put him in Rookie of the Year conversations. He recorded a career-high 34 points and 10 assists in a matchup against a conference contender, helping him secure November’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors.
McCain was selected 16th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft following a successful one-and-done season at Duke. There he led the Blue Devils to the Elite Eight while averaging 21 points per game in the tournament. The 6’3” sharpshooter earned ACC All-Rookie Team honors.
Off the court McCain is known for his social media presence tallying 7 million followers between TikTok and Instagram. Since his days as a consensus 5-star prospect in Corona, California, he has shared his charming personality through dance trends and vlogs, famously embracing his love for nail polish. McCain’s authenticity has translated into brand partnerships with Sally Hansen and American Eagle.
The 21-year-old heads to Oklahoma City with the chance to move past his injury woes and integrate his energy into the Thunder’s rising core.
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