The Oklahoma City Thunder are 6-2, but the record only tells part of the story. This has been a rocky start for a team dealing with injuries, and too often the games have turned into survival mode.
Right now, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is carrying the load almost by himself, scoring more than 40 points in each of the Thunder’s last two wins. Ajay Mitchell has chipped in, but Oklahoma City needs more help around its star.
That’s where Jared McCain comes in, and where the concern starts. McCain was supposed to be a major piece for this team after what he did in last year’s postseason. The organization had him pegged as a player who could step into Isaiah Joe’s role now that Joe is gone, and there was real optimism about what he could bring this season.
The opening night against San Antonio looked like a promising start. McCain scored 20 points and helped lead the Thunder to a win. Since then, though, the production has fallen off hard.
The biggest issue has been his shot from deep. Over the last four games, McCain has taken 22 three-pointers and made just one.
He has tried to make up for it in other parts of his game, but Oklahoma City needs perimeter shooting, plain and simple. As a team, the Thunder are shooting 33.3% from three, which ranks No. 20 in the league.
That number isn’t disastrous, but it’s not good enough for a team trying to keep winning while missing multiple key players. If McCain can get back on track from beyond the arc, it would ease the pressure on Gilgeous-Alexander and give Oklahoma City a better chance to keep competing night after night.
The Thunder have already shown they can grind out wins, but doing that consistently without several of their stars is another challenge entirely. McCain’s shooting is one of the clearest ways that can change. He’s shown before that he can catch fire and take over with his jumper, and Oklahoma City needs that version of him back.
In Other News...
Thunder May Have Found Shai Gilgeous-Alexanders Surprise Scoring Help
With the Thunder shorthanded in the middle of a stretch that has tested their depth, a new frontcourt option has started to emerge alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The injuries have thinned Oklahoma Citys rotation and forced the team to look harder at who can take on more responsibility, especially on the offensive end, where every extra source of scoring matters.
Aday Mara gave them a reason to keep looking in his direction in a win over the Washington Wizards, showing enough poise and activity to suggest there may be more there than just spot duty. Oklahoma City is now weighing whether to expand his role as it tries to keep the offense afloat while key pieces remain out, and that kind of internal answer can matter even more when the roster is stretched this thin. [Read more 🡒]
Nikola Topic Just Reached An Important Step In His Thunder Return
Nikola Topic has reached a meaningful checkpoint in his recovery, with the Thunder assigning the young guard to their G League affiliate as he works his way back from back surgery. It is the latest step in a stop-and-start beginning to his NBA career for the No. 12 pick in the 2024 draft, whose development has been slowed by a string of injuries and illnesses since he entered the league.
For Oklahoma City, the move is less about the short-term box score than the long view, giving Topic a chance to get back on the floor in a controlled setting and start rebuilding momentum. He has already spent the entire regular season sidelined, and now the next question is how quickly he can turn this assignment into real game action again. [Read more 🡒]
Jared McCain Is Giving The Thunder Exactly What Shai Needed
Jared McCain gave Oklahoma City the kind of early lift that can make a lopsided game feel settled before it really starts. In the Thunders 124-97 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA Cup West Group B stage, McCain finished with 21 points, five rebounds, four steals and a block, and his first-quarter burst helped set the tone for a night when the ball kept moving and the pressure kept coming from both ends.
What stood out afterward was how naturally McCain fit into the Thunders team-first rhythm, especially with the offense spreading the load around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. McCain pointed to the cohesion on both sides of the floor, and it was easy to see why this version of Oklahoma City can make life easier on its star while still forcing opponents to deal with waves of different threats. [Read more 🡒]