Second-year guard Jared McCain was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder Feb. 4 in return for future draft picks. Philadelphia 76ers fans anticipated the team would make a move at the trade deadline, but dealing McCain to the Western Conference powerhouse came as a shock to everyone, including McCain and the rest of Philadelphia’s roster.
In a YouTube vlog posted Feb. 9, the 21-year-old talent showcased the timeline of his move to Oklahoma City. McCain explained that the team was heading to the airport in preparation for their next game when he received the call from Daryl Morey, Sixers’ president of basketball operations.
McCain described the morning he got the phone call on his vlog.
“Right when I found out, I went to the back of the bus and I told Tyrese [Maxey], and [the team] didn’t believe me,” McCain said in his vlog. “And then management called them … we get off the busses and everybody’s giving me hugs, and I’m just crying … a lot of tears today.”
McCain was selected by Philadelphia as the 16th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, quickly becoming a fan favorite due to his crafty offensive abilities, charisma and positive attitude. Prior to suffering a season-ending meniscus tear in December 2024, McCain was the clear front runner for Rookie of the Year. He averaged 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in addition to an impressive 3-point percentage of 38.3% for the season. Toward the tail end of his recovery process, McCain suffered a torn UCL in his right thumb Sept. 25. and underwent successful surgery to repair the tear. This additional setback caused McCain to miss the first six games of the 2025-26 season.
Most of McCain’s second year in Philadelphia was overshadowed by an apparent sophomore slump. Whether he was learning to trust his body again following two major injuries or readjusting to the fast-paced environment of an NBA game, McCain struggled to find his groove offensively. Head coach Nick Nurse decided to limit or cut his minutes completely across multiple games this season as a result, sparking uncertainty in regard to McCain’s role with the team. A dominant offensive display against the Milwaukee Bucks Jan. 27 quickly overshadowed these concerns. The Duke alum contributed 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting from 3-point range in the 139-122 home victory, marking his best offensive performance of the season thus far. Only eight days later McCain was sent to Oklahoma City, just as he was getting back into an offensive rhythm.
It did not take long for McCain to find his place with the Thunder. In just four games played so far, the young guard tallied 5, 7, 12 and 13 points, respectively. Given the way this season is panning out for Oklahoma City (42-14), it will be exciting to watch McCain contribute to the team’s run for a second consecutive championship.
