Jared McCain has been lighting up the court since his conference switch before February's trade deadline, boasting impressive averages of 11.9 points on 47.5% shooting and a remarkable 44.4% from beyond the arc with the OKC Thunder.
But it's not just his scoring that's turning heads. McCain's deep understanding of Eastern Conference teams' strategies might be the secret weapon in Oklahoma City's quest for a repeat title.
After a commanding win over the Brooklyn Nets, McCain was asked about the advantage of facing familiar Eastern teams. He acknowledged that knowing their tendencies and arenas could definitely benefit both him and the Thunder when playing cross-conference matchups.
While the Thunder will primarily face Western teams in their playoff journey, the ultimate test will be against the Eastern Conference Champions in the NBA Finals, if they make it that far. Whether it's the top-seeded Detroit Pistons or rivals like the Boston Celtics or New York Knicks, McCain's insights could prove to be a hidden gem that the Thunder didn't fully realize they acquired.
OKC is utilizing McCain in ways the 76ers never did. In his first 18 games with the Thunder, he has been a key scoring threat, especially off screens set by big men like Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams.
McCain shared that during his time with the 76ers, he watched Tyrese Maxey thrive from similar setups with Joel Embiid. Now, being part of such plays in OKC is something he finds truly exciting.