Jared McCain didn’t see it coming. One minute he was boarding the team bus with the 76ers, business as usual.
The next, his phone rang - and just like that, he was headed to Oklahoma City. No heads-up.
No whispers. Just a sudden pivot in what’s already been a whirlwind start to his NBA career.
“I had no feeling,” McCain said Friday, during his first media availability as a member of the Thunder. “I didn’t think it was going to happen, to be honest.”
The trade caught him off guard, but it didn’t stop him from handling it with maturity beyond his years. After getting the call, McCain says he went straight to Tyrese Maxey to share the news. That moment, he admitted, got emotional.
It’s been that kind of stretch for McCain - fast-moving, unpredictable, and emotionally charged. But even in the middle of a sudden cross-country move, he’s staying grounded.
“I allow myself to feel all the emotions. It’s natural,” he said.
“Give myself grace through this process. But you move quick.”
McCain touched down in Los Angeles before heading straight to Oklahoma City, where he returned to the Thunder practice facility for the first time since his pre-draft workout in 2024. According to head coach Mark Daigneault, the Thunder had eyes on McCain back then, and the interest never really faded.
That long-standing interest turned into action at the trade deadline. Oklahoma City sent four draft picks - including a 2026 first-rounder and three future second-rounders - to the Sixers to bring in the young guard. It’s a move that signals belief in McCain’s upside, even as he works his way through an injury-riddled sophomore season.
Daigneault hasn’t committed to whether McCain will debut in Saturday’s matchup against the Rockets, but the guard is eager to get started - even if the emotional weight of the trade is still fresh.
“It’s a little bit of both,” McCain said of balancing the excitement of a new opportunity with the sting of leaving Philly. “It’s a balance you’ve got to work through. I’m definitely still going through it, and still trying to cope with it.”
That kind of honesty is part of what makes McCain such a compelling young player. He’s not afraid to admit the transition’s been tough.
But he’s also not shrinking from the moment. He’s embracing it - just like he’s embraced every challenge thrown his way since entering the league.
“I’ve had a lot of experience in a small amount of time,” he said. “I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.
I’ve gone through the highs and lows. And there’s going to be more to come.”
Here’s Jared McCain speaking to the media for the first time as a Thunder player pic.twitter.com/NC1yu5xJoC
— Justin Martinez (@Justintohoops) February 6, 2026
Perspective like that doesn’t come easy, especially for a 21-year-old in just his second NBA season. But McCain has leaned on his support system and kept his focus where it needs to be - on the work.
“Just continue to work hard, and just know that it’s all going to come together,” he said. “My life is amazing. I get to play basketball and get paid to do it.”
That’s the mindset the Thunder are getting - a player who’s been tested early, but hasn’t lost his love for the game or the bigger picture. McCain knows the road hasn’t been smooth, but he’s not asking for a do-over.
“I would summarize, I think it’s been amazing,” he said. “You just gotta stay even and try to talk with your family, talk with the people around you that you care most about.”
As for the final exchange with Philadelphia? McCain said there wasn’t much conversation with Sixers GM Daryl Morey when the trade went down. It was a business decision - one that’s now opened the door to a new chapter in Oklahoma City.
The Thunder, already one of the league’s most exciting young teams, just added another intriguing piece to the puzzle. Now it’s time to see how McCain fits into the mix - and how quickly he can turn the page.