Jared McCain has made it pretty clear all offseason that he’s bought in with the OKC Thunder. He’s been everywhere in the mix - friendly trash talk on TikTok, meetings, unofficial workouts, and plenty of selfies with teammates - and he’s leaned into the whole thing without hesitation.
His latest test of Thunder loyalty came with a twist. McCain was asked to come up with music comparisons for different NBA players, including teammate and perennial All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. McCain landed on singer-songwriter Olivia Dean.
He said he wanted to choose Drake, but that comparison had already gone to Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum. Even so, Dean may be the stronger fit for Gilgeous-Alexander anyway.
Dean’s sound is built on smooth, soulful tracks that blend R&B and pop, with jazzy touches that line up nicely with the way Gilgeous-Alexander plays. Shai has long been described with words like “slithery” and “shifty,” and that fits.
His handle and shot creation are slick, but they’re also hard to pin down. He moves with a kind of rhythm that never feels fully predictable.
That’s what makes the comparison work. Dean isn’t formulaic, and Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t either. Both have a style that feels like their own, and both have the results to back it up.
Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off two straight MVP seasons, while Dean picked up her first Grammy in February, winning Best New Artist. Drake would have brought a stronger pile of accolades to the conversation, but McCain’s choice still connects style and success in a way that fits the Thunder star.
More than anything, the comparison is another sign that McCain has been exactly what OKC wanted. His game is one thing, but his personality has given the team even more. He’s added to the chemistry, fit right into the group, and helped reinforce the feeling that Sam Presti brought in another piece of the family.
For a team that already feels close, that matters. And McCain keeps looking like a steal.
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The early gathering also included a bowling outing, another small but telling sign of how this group is trying to get connected before the schedule speeds up. With camp set to begin on Sept. 22, the preseason opening on Oct. 3 and the regular season arriving on Oct. 20, the Thunder are already putting in the kind of early bonding that can matter once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]