Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain is making waves in his second NBA season, and while fans are buzzing, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse isn't caught off guard. McCain's departure from the 76ers, amid a crowded backcourt, left some Philly fans scratching their heads, especially given the team's struggles this season.
After battling back from knee and hand injuries, McCain was starting to find his rhythm with the 76ers before being traded to the Thunder. Nurse shared his insights, noting, “The 7-for-11 night is coming.
He was still working through that knee brace and recovering from the hand injury. It definitely impacted him physically for a while, but I could see him emerging from it.
I was expecting those big, streaky nights where he could light it up.”
McCain's recent performance has been electric. He dropped a season-high 26 points on 9-for-16 shooting, including 5-for-9 from three-point range, leading the Thunder to a dominant 121-92 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. This win extended their impressive streak to 11 games after a solid 132-111 triumph against the Washington Wizards.
In his last four games, McCain has been on fire from beyond the arc, hitting 14-for-30, and contributing four threes in the Thunder's win against the Wizards. His offensive surge has left some questioning 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey's decision to trade him.
Reflecting on his time with the 76ers, McCain sees parallels in how both teams utilize their bigs. He noted the synergy between Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in Philly and finds a similar dynamic with the Thunder's Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams.
“It’s crazy. Watching Joel and Tyrese was amazing, and now being part of something similar here is really fun.
Playing with Hart, J-Will, and Chet, they’re all elite bigs. I’m excited to play with them,” McCain shared.
The 76ers will have their chance to halt the Thunder's winning streak on Monday, setting the stage for an exciting matchup.