Jared McCain, who’s receiving high praise at camp, feels ready for Philly thanks to his time at Duke

Jared McCain isn’t guaranteed a rotation role given the Sixers’ depth in the backcourt, but he’s embracing the challenge and leaning into his strength: catch-and-shoot deep balls.

Is it me or does it feel like a mini lifetime ago since the Sixers were on the clock in the 2024 NBA Draft?

It was only June 26, and with the No. 16 overall pick, the Sixers selected Duke’s Jared McCain. Paul George was still a Clipper. Mikal Bridges a Net, Karl-Anthony Towns a Timberwolf. The Olympics were still weeks away. Joel Embiid was apparently 20-30 pounds heavier. Many of us (guilty as charged) even guessed that Daryl Morey was going to trade No. 16 when he was on the clock.

But things change in a Philly minute. The NBA landscape has shifted. The Sixers and Knicks have each taken turns stealing headlines with big-time acquisitions, both trying to dethrone the Boston Celtics come the 2024-2025 season. One thing that has not changed is Jared McCain’s dedication to his craft and readiness.

McCain has a likable and disarming public-facing charm. But if you squint you can see that behind the dazzling smile, flashy nails (yes, he does promote a polish brand on his popular TikTok), little dances, beyond the melodious singing voice, there lies a borderline obsessive marksmen — laser-focused on honing the lethality of his jump shot.

At Sixers media day in Camden, McCain spoke to reporters about the transition from college to the NBA, beginning with summer league.

“It’s a lot of things. You’re just trying to get your feet wet in summer league and trying to feel how it is in the NBA. It’s a lot different,” the Sacramento native said.

“So just getting used to the pace, coming off pick-and-rolls, making the right read. Since there’s a defensive three seconds, there’s a lot more space sometimes, but sometimes it gets clogged up. So I think understanding that and understanding how the game’s going to be played in the actual NBA when we get to the regular season. … I think one of the main things is just being able to catch and shoot. That’s definitely going to be my role. We’ve got such talented players and when they get doubled, I’ve just got to be ready to knock down those shots.”

As McCain talks about, names like first-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey, back-to-back scoring champ and 2023 MVP Joel Embiid, and nine-time All-Star Paul George will command a lot of attention from opposing defenses. The Maxey-Embiid dribble-hand off or pick-and-roll game was already inching up towards James Harden levels by the time Maxey was ripping hearts out at Madison Square Garden in the 2024 playoffs. Now returning Kyle Lowry and Kelly Oubre, Jr. and adding Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon? If McCain can earn playing time, he’s going to get looks. And then it’s all about knocking them down, something he’s confident he can do.

McCain is already receiving glowing reviews from his veteran teammates and his head coach during the team’s training camp in the Bahamas.

As for goals this coming season?

“At Duke, being a freshman … being highly touted in high school, you feel like you want to play as a freshman,” McCain said. “But now, being a rookie on a championship-contending team, I can’t be like, ‘I want to be this. I want to play this many minutes.’ I’m just trying to learn as much as possible. A lot of these players have more experience than I’ve been alive for. Kyle Lowry, Year 19. I was one year old when he first got in the league. Just to learn as much as I can, find whatever my role is going to be on this team, and just work as hard as I can off the court.”

You can see that he understands he’s not going to simply be handed a rotation spot and he’s hungry to earn one. Not unlike Maxey, it seems worth ethic and improving are core values for McCain. And if we ever do speak about a #SixersCulture, it may reflect some of what these young guards bring to the locker room.

“I’ve worked with Coach Rico [Hines] every day since summer league. I’ve been with him in the gym in the morning before practice, just trying to figure out what I can do to help the team win — whatever that is,” McCain said. “And still obviously perfecting whatever I can that may not be my role this year but may be down the line … handling the ball, being able to lead a team. But still obviously perfecting the catch-and-shoot and just being able to knock down shots. Obviously, all around, just trying to get better.”

One thing that Sixers fans often worry about, however, is this player #BuiltForThisCity? Philly ain’t no cupcake city, to paraphrase Allen Iverson. And the fans can turn on a player or team for underachieving. Daryl Morey in the past has admitted the pressure cooker of playing here is something he didn’t realize he was going to have to bake into his algorithms.

So where does McCain get the confidence he can, for example, step onto the floor in seven months, and drain clutch bombs at MSG or Boston?

“I think [my experience has] prepared me for exactly where I need to be. I always know the universe and God is going to guide me to wherever I need to go. I think playing in high school, playing in the biggest games at Duke … I was able to play in March Madness in an Elite Eight game. That’s obviously the biggest stage in college you can get to. So I think it’s prepared me perfectly. And I think the Duke fan base is a little similar. Philly might be a little more passionate, but we’ll see about that. I think it’s prepared me perfectly for where I’m going to be this year.”

With Maxey, Lowry, Eric Gordon, Reggie Jackson and Ricky Council IV, there is certainly some intense backcourt competition. NBA Coaches do often tend to give veterans the benefit of the doubt over rookies in terms of playing time also; relying on the savvy, experience and leadership that comes with being battle-tested. But McCain possesses the potential equalizer: if he’s a knock-down three-point shooter, Nurse won’t be able to keep the young sniper on the bench even if he wanted to.

But could he handle the uncertainty?

“I think one of my skills is I’m good at adapting to whatever the situation is. Even in the beginning of college, I feel like I was almost the fourth or fifth option on the floor in the very beginning. But I kind of just kept working and obviously became one of the first options. But I think adapting is one of my biggest abilities, so I think I’m ready for whatever opportunity I get. I’m just going to work as hard as I can and do whatever I can to help the team win.”

Whether it’s with the Blue Coats or the Sixers McCain sounds adaptable and hungry. And that attitude, that growth mindset, clearly played a big part in why the team tapped Jared McCain at No. 16 and not other popular names like Los Angeles Lakers’ Dalton Knecht. And it clearly played a part in why a team who seemed perfectly positioned to trade a young player for veteran help opted to keep him as we gear up for preseason hoops.

The season is near. And McCain is quietly working on his quick-trigger releases and his “hesi-pull up jimbo,” as Kevin Durant once said of Markelle Fultz.