Jared McCain continues to thrive since the Sixers traded him to OKC.
At the trade deadline, the Philadelphia 76ers shockingly parted with Jared McCain by dealing him away to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Now a few weeks removed from the decision, one analyst is still in awe at the franchise moving on from him so quickly.
After being drafted 16th overall in 2024, McCain was one of the biggest bright spots for the Sixers last season. When the roster was devastated by injuries, he delivered a string of impressive showings in an expanded role. Unfortunately for McCain, things came to an abrupt end for him as his rookie campaign was cut short due to a season-ending knee injury.
Entering his second year, McCain was expected to be an everyday player for the Sixers. This wasn’t the case, as he was regularly the odd man out in the logjam of guards on Philadelphia’s roster. Then, just a year-and-a-half after drafting him, Daryl Morey decided to part with him in exchange for multiple draft picks from the Thunder.
As many expected, McCain has had a lot of success on the defending champions. Following another impressive showing, NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor took to social media to give his thoughts on the trade. He is still amazed that the Sixers gave up on McCain and his potential so quickly.
Through his first nine games with the Thunder, McCain is averaging 11.9 PPG and 3.1 RPG on 45.9% shooting from beyond the arc.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Gives High Praise to Jared McCain
Between his style of play and vibrant personality, Jared McCain provides a boost to any team he is on. Despite only being with the Thunder for a short time, the young guard has already won over his new superstar teammate.
On February 27th, OKC battled it out with the Denver Nuggets in front of a nationally televised audience. The two Western Conference contenders didn’t disappoint, putting on an overtime thriller.
In the end, the Thunder walked out with a 127-121 victory, and McCain was one of their catalyst. He put together a strong performance off the bench, posting 14 points in 19 minutes of action.
After the win, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was asked what he has thought of the Thunder’s newest addition. He gave high praise to McCain and what he brings to the roster.
“He was great tonight,” SGA said of McCain. “There was a spurt in the game where he kept us afloat, scoring wise. Great shooting touch. He’s going to continue get better the more he’s in our system. Kid’s really talented at basketball.”
Jared McCain Keeping Positive Mindset After Departure From Sixers
For Jared McCain, the trade was another wrench thrown into the early stages of his pro career. First he had to overcome a long-term injury, and now he has to adjust to an entirely new situation on the fly. That said, the 22-year-old is still maintaining a positive attitude.
Last week, McCain was asked what it’s been like living in Oklahoma City. He appears to be enjoying things thus far, specifically liking being in a quieter city.
“It’s great vibes,” McCain said. “I like a chill place anyway.”
Now settled in to some degree, McCain will continue to try and carve out a role for himself as the Thunder look to get back to the NBA Finals.
Kevin McCormick is a veteran sports writer covering the NBA for Heavy.com. After writing for Heavy briefly in 2022, he’s returned to the publication in 2026. McCormick brings with him over seven years of experience writing about the NBA in a newsroom and served as a credentialed reporter of the Philadelphia 76ers for 97.3 ESPN, ClutchPoints, and On SI. More about Kevin McCormick
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