Jared McCain shows bark, bite as OKC Thunder rolls past Nets

Jared McCain briefly paused as a microphone was placed inches away from his face.

OKC had just earned a 105-86 home win over Brooklyn on Friday night. And after finishing his first postgame interview with sideline reporter Nick Gallo, he was told by Jalen Williams to give his debut bark. It was the final initiation for the 22-year-old birthday kid, who joined the team at the trade deadline via a deal with Philadelphia.

“I was debating on going really light chihuahua or like a good one,” McCain said with a smile.

McCain ultimately chose the latter, delivering not one but about 15 aggressive barks while staring directly into the camera. That should come as no surprise from someone who’ll happily record a TikTok dance video or refer to his viewers as “chat” in public while recording a YouTube vlog.

“I thought I did a great job,” said McCain, who later described his bark as a Rottweiler bark.

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That brief moment before barking was the only time McCain second-guessed himself all night.

He racked up a team-high 21 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field (3 for 6 from deep) in 23 minutes off the bench. And whether he was letting it fly from deep, pulling up from the mid range or attacking the rim, he played freely alongside his new teammates.

It was the best game yet by McCain, who has only headlined one of OKC’s iconic group postgame interviews so far. But he has felt surrounded by supporters ever since he joined the team.

“I’m very comfortable with everybody now, and I credit them,” McCain said. “They welcomed me, and I’m just super thankful to be in this organization. It’s truly a blessing to come here and be able to have people who’ve succeeded at the highest level of basketball and still give me confidence and allow me to be myself. That’s when I feel like I’m at my best, when I’m surrounded by good energy. It comes right back to me, so I’m just grateful to be here.”

Here are three takeaways from the win:

Order new book on Thunder’s run to NBA title

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Isaiah Joe delivered one hustle play after another

Isaiah Joe didn’t have any reinforcements.

It looked like a losing battle for the Thunder guard, who found himself on the wrong end of a two-on-one Nets fastbreak early in the second quarter. And yet he had no intentions of retreating.

Joe anticipated the lob by Drake Powell and showed off his vertical, deflecting the pass at its highest point. He then tumbled to the floor in a scramble for the ball, which bounced out of bounds.

And when reinforcements finally came to help him up, Joe sat there for a few seconds. He was more concerned with pleading to the official, which ultimately awarded OKC possession.

That was one of the many hustle plays of the night by Joe. He battled for offensive boards. He invaded passing lanes for steals. He stormed the rim on fastbreaks. He was everywhere on a night when he finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and two steals in 22 minutes.

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