Jared McCain is using part of his NBA offseason to do something that hits close to home for a lot of people: helping teachers knock out their wish lists.
With the school year approaching and July heat still hanging around, McCain took to his Instagram story and said he wanted to help clear out teachers’ wishlist items. Those lists are usually packed with school supplies that educators end up buying themselves, so the offer drew plenty of attention.
Teachers responded, including some locally, and McCain’s gesture quickly stood out as more than just a nice social media post. It was a straightforward way to give back at a time when classrooms are about to gear up for another nine-month run.
McCain, 22, joined the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a 2026 NBA trade deadline acquisition, and the move paid off in a big way for the team over the next few months. He helped Oklahoma City finish five wins short of back-to-back titles.
Now, with an offseason under his belt, McCain is settling in more comfortably with the Thunder. That matters even more after Oklahoma City’s cost-cutting decisions to move on from Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, which will leave McCain with more on his plate offensively.
He didn’t take long to win over OKC fans, and this latest move only adds to that goodwill. By stepping up for teachers in the state, McCain is giving Thunder supporters another reason to like what they’re seeing.
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The Warriors draft room became one of the nights most replayed scenes during the 2026 NBA Draft, but the real backdrop was a familiar one: teams calling, options shifting, and a front office trying to decide whether to move off No. 11. Golden State had gone into the pick hoping Brayden Burries would still be there, only to watch Milwaukee take him at No. 10, which pushed the Warriors into a quick pivot toward Yaxel Lendeborg.
Before the selection was made, Golden State was also weighing outside interest from Charlotte and Oklahoma City, with both clubs exploring ways to move up the board. In the end, the Warriors passed on the trade possibilities and stayed put at No. 11, taking Lendeborg, even as the broadcast moment left plenty of room for viewers to read more into the exchange than the room was actually giving away. [Read more 🡒]
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Topics case is about more than just opportunity on the floor. He is now eligible for a fourth-year team option and a contract extension, which puts Oklahoma City in a familiar spot of balancing development against long-term cost. With roster departures already thinning the guard and wing rotation, the Thunder have a chance to find out whether Topic can turn those extra possessions into a real role, and maybe make the front offices next decision a little harder than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Just Became The Team The West Is Chasing
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Even with Ball joining Anthony Edwards to give Minnesota a more dangerous offensive core, the challenge in the West still runs through Oklahoma Citys ability to take away what teams want most. The Thunder are also expected to get Cason Wallace more fully into the mix, which only adds another layer to a group that already knows how to grind down opponents and control the terms of a series. [Read more 🡒]
