{"id":685620,"date":"2026-05-21T17:49:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T17:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/685620\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T17:49:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T17:49:10","slug":"jared-mccain-brings-contagious-energy-to-oklahoma-city-thunder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/685620\/","title":{"rendered":"Jared McCain brings ‘contagious energy’ to Oklahoma City Thunder"},"content":{"rendered":"

OKLAHOMA CITY \u2014 Showcasing an unapologetic Generation Z persona, Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> guard Jared McCain<\/a> dons multicolored painted nails with creative designs. His TikTok dance videos have helped him garner more than 5 million followers on that platform, 2 million followers on Instagram, 375,000 YouTube subscribers and countless haters. The Drake fanatic had no problems expressing his excitement publicly when the rap star released three albums last week.<\/p>\n

There is no question McCain is comfortable in his own skin. It was also apparent the 22-year-old was comfortable playing for the Thunder during a 122-113 victory over the San Antonio Spurs during Game 2 of the Western Conference finals Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe painting of the nails, the TikTok [dances] and being able to do that, I definitely got hate for it,\u201d McCain told Andscape after Game 2. \u201cBut it wasn\u2019t an in-your-face kind of thing because I started it during COVID [the coronavirus pandemic]. It\u2019s something I like doing. But basketball has always been the main thing, and people try to deteriorate that and make it about other things.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always been comfortable doing it and comfortable in my own skin. I credit my parents and my family for providing me that confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

McCain scored 12 points, nailed a trio of 3-pointers and added six rebounds and three assists Wednesday, playing more than seven fourth-quarter minutes and closing the game on the floor for the Thunder. It was just the 6-foot-3, 195-pounder\u2019s 40th game with Oklahoma City after being acquired in a midseason trade from the Philadelphia 76ers. He has averaged 10.8 points off the bench in the Thunder\u2019s six games since the start of the second round.<\/p>\n

McCain has quickly connected with his teammates on and off the court.<\/p>\n

\u201cJared has been enlightening for us as a team from a personality standpoint,\u201d Thunder guard Alex Caruso said to media after the game. \u201cAnybody who has gotten to talk to him or see him since he\u2019s been here, [knows] he has endless energy every single day and he\u2019s always smiling, joking, being a part of the team and being a great teammate.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat translates to his game as well. He is constantly moving on offense, which is manipulating the defense. He\u2019s starting to pick up some of our other principles. He picked up a big offensive rebound tonight. I\u2019m not sure he did much of that with the teams [he played for] prior, at any level. He\u2019s learning and his energy is contagious any time he is on the court. Everybody playing with him can feel it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"JaredMcCain scored 12 points, hit three 3-pointers and added six rebounds and three assists in the Oklahoma City Thunder\u2019s Game 2 win on May 20.<\/p>\n

Jesse D. Garrabrant\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

It\u2019s somewhat stunning that McCain, just two seasons into his career, is in a Thunder uniform.<\/p>\n

The former Duke guard was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 16th pick in the 2024 NBA draft. His rookie campaign got off to a fast start last year, averaging 15.3 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds per while shooting 38.3% from 3-point range in Philadelphia\u2019s first 23 games to establish himself as the early favorite for the 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year award.<\/p>\n

But then, on Dec. 14, 2024, McCain\u2019s season ended due to a meniscus tear in his left knee.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt definitely was a shock,\u201d McCain said. \u201cIt was my first big injury in general. It was something that was hard to deal with at the time, but I trust God. He has a plan for me. I always trusted it. Throughout the whole process, I just tried to learn as a much as I could sitting on the bench. It was tough, though.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was one of my goals to finish out the [season], especially when I first started [well]. I thought I could be Rookie of the Year. That kind of going away was tough, but I knew God had a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

This season, with rookie guard VJ Edgecombe quickly emerging as a starter for Philadelphia, McCain regressed, averaging 6.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 37 games, and missing time with a right thumb surgery. Despite being challenged for playing time, McCain says he loved being with the Sixers and in Philadelphia. <\/p>\n

On Feb. 3, however, he found out he was being traded to the Thunder.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was on the bus with the Sixers and we were heading to the airport in San Francisco. We just played Golden State,\u201d McCain said. \u201cI texted my agent for a gym in L.A. and he called me, and I think he\u2019s calling me about the gym. He is like, \u2018They\u2019re about to trade you.\u2019 Then [then-Sixers president Daryl Morey] called me five minutes later and told me I was traded. It was pretty wild, and I started crying immediately.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose are my brothers and still are my brothers to this day. It was definitely tough. They thought I was joking when I told them, and then I started crying. Then they were like, \u2018Oh, this is serious.\u2019 Then we got off the bus and they all came up to me and I still went on the plane with them to L.A. I still miss Philly to this day. I never was able to see my house again because we were on the road. It\u2019s little things like that. I miss my routine, but I\u2019m definitely blessed to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell is never shaken by the moment \u2013 AndscapeRead now<\/a><\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t take long for McCain to fit in with the Thunder.<\/p>\n

On the court, Oklahoma City immediately needed his help to fill the void left by All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was missing nine games with an abdominal strain. Off the court, McCain instantly became a fan favorite when he did an impromptu TikTok dance for Thunder fans<\/a> who were at the airport to welcome the team home after the final road trip of the regular season. An entertained Gilgeous-Alexander gladly recorded the dance for McCain with the latter\u2019s cellphone.<\/p>\n

Thunder guard Luguentz Dort said McCain actually seemed to fit in with his new team in \u201ctwo to three days.\u201d Dort added that the California native is a \u201cworker\u201d who is often at the Thunder\u2019s practice facility late at night getting up extra shots.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first week or two that he was here felt like he had been here the whole season,\u201d Dort told Andscape. \u201cThat is the type of guy he is. That is the type of locker room we have. Really funny and really loud, and he blended in with everyone really quick. \u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cThe dance was funny. We came back from the last [road] game of the [regular] season, and our fans always show love to us. And when we got back, he was new to it, he didn\u2019t know about it. The type of guy that he is; he was just trying to be fun. He went out there and started dancing and Shai was right by him recording. It was a cool moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Said McCain: \u201cThey welcomed me immediately when I got traded. The staff, the team, the city in general. It just felt right when I got here. \u2026 But the dance was one of those things where I said, \u2018You want to do it?\u2019 We kind of just did it waiting for our bags.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was awesome. It was a fun moment for everyone. For Shai to be there and record for me was a cool moment and got me close to a team I really love. I really loved everybody here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"JaredMcCain provided some much-needed offense and comedic relief during Game 2.<\/p>\n

Zach Beeker\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

True to himself, McCain provided some much-needed offense and comedic relief during Game 2.<\/p>\n

He banked in a 26-foot 3-pointer during a 11-0 run that pushed Oklahoma City\u2019s lead to 13 points midway through the fourth quarter. He played in the final minute of the win and assisted Gilgeous-Alexander on an 18-foot step-back jumper that gave the Thunder a 120-113 lead with 42 seconds left. <\/p>\n

And during a late-game jump shot by Gilgeous-Alexander, the two-time NBA MVP playfully yelled at McCain to quiet down and remain calm.<\/p>\n

\u201cJared was yelling at me while I was shooting. I was like, \u2018Bro, I\u2019m shooting. Don\u2019t distract me,\u2019\u201d Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters. \u201cI was literally telling Jared to calm down. That is what great shooters do. They let you know when they\u2019re open. We hashed it out. We\u2019re good.\u201d<\/p>\n

What a difference three months has made for McCain going from the Sixers to the Thunder, who are now three wins away from returning to the NBA Finals and giving the second-year guard his first chance to play on the sport\u2019s biggest stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means the world. The year I\u2019ve had, I can\u2019t even believe I\u2019m here to be honest,\u201d McCain said. \u201cWhen I pray every day, it\u2019s crazy. To be three wins away, I just want to take one game a time, be present and do whatever I can to help this team win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasn\u2019t been able to in years and his knees still hurt.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t