Jared McCain brings ‘contagious energy’ to Oklahoma City Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY — Showcasing an unapologetic Generation Z persona, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain dons multicolored painted nails with creative designs. His TikTok dance videos have helped him garner more than 5 million followers on that platform, 2 million followers on Instagram, 375,000 YouTube subscribers and countless haters. The Drake fanatic had no problems expressing his excitement publicly when the rap star released three albums last week.

There is no question McCain is comfortable in his own skin. It was also apparent the 22-year-old was comfortable playing for the Thunder during a 122-113 victory over the San Antonio Spurs during Game 2 of the Western Conference finals Wednesday.

“The painting of the nails, the TikTok [dances] and being able to do that, I definitely got hate for it,” McCain told Andscape after Game 2. “But it wasn’t an in-your-face kind of thing because I started it during COVID [the coronavirus pandemic]. It’s something I like doing. But basketball has always been the main thing, and people try to deteriorate that and make it about other things.

“I’ve always been comfortable doing it and comfortable in my own skin. I credit my parents and my family for providing me that confidence.”

McCain scored 12 points, nailed a trio of 3-pointers and added six rebounds and three assists Wednesday, playing more than seven fourth-quarter minutes and closing the game on the floor for the Thunder. It was just the 6-foot-3, 195-pounder’s 40th game with Oklahoma City after being acquired in a midseason trade from the Philadelphia 76ers. He has averaged 10.8 points off the bench in the Thunder’s six games since the start of the second round.

McCain has quickly connected with his teammates on and off the court.

“Jared has been enlightening for us as a team from a personality standpoint,” Thunder guard Alex Caruso said to media after the game. “Anybody who has gotten to talk to him or see him since he’s been here, [knows] he has endless energy every single day and he’s always smiling, joking, being a part of the team and being a great teammate.

“That translates to his game as well. He is constantly moving on offense, which is manipulating the defense. He’s starting to pick up some of our other principles. He picked up a big offensive rebound tonight. I’m not sure he did much of that with the teams [he played for] prior, at any level. He’s learning and his energy is contagious any time he is on the court. Everybody playing with him can feel it.”

It’s somewhat stunning that McCain, just two seasons into his career, is in a Thunder uniform.

The former Duke guard was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 16th pick in the 2024 NBA draft. His rookie campaign got off to a fast start last year, averaging 15.3 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds per while shooting 38.3% from 3-point range in Philadelphia’s first 23 games to establish himself as the early favorite for the 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year award.

But then, on Dec. 14, 2024, McCain’s season ended due to a meniscus tear in his left knee.

“It definitely was a shock,” McCain said. “It was my first big injury in general. It was something that was hard to deal with at the time, but I trust God. He has a plan for me. I always trusted it. Throughout the whole process, I just tried to learn as a much as I could sitting on the bench. It was tough, though.

“It was one of my goals to finish out the [season], especially when I first started [well]. I thought I could be Rookie of the Year. That kind of going away was tough, but I knew God had a plan.”

This season, with rookie guard VJ Edgecombe quickly emerging as a starter for Philadelphia, McCain regressed, averaging 6.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 37 games, and missing time with a right thumb surgery. Despite being challenged for playing time, McCain says he loved being with the Sixers and in Philadelphia.

On Feb. 3, however, he found out he was being traded to the Thunder.

“I was on the bus with the Sixers and we were heading to the airport in San Francisco. We just played Golden State,” McCain said. “I texted my agent for a gym in L.A. and he called me, and I think he’s calling me about the gym. He is like, ‘They’re about to trade you.’ Then [then-Sixers president Daryl Morey] called me five minutes later and told me I was traded. It was pretty wild, and I started crying immediately.

“Those are my brothers and still are my brothers to this day. It was definitely tough. They thought I was joking when I told them, and then I started crying. Then they were like, ‘Oh, this is serious.’ Then we got off the bus and they all came up to me and I still went on the plane with them to L.A. I still miss Philly to this day. I never was able to see my house again because we were on the road. It’s little things like that. I miss my routine, but I’m definitely blessed to be here.”

It didn’t take long for McCain to fit in with the Thunder.

On the court, Oklahoma City immediately needed his help to fill the void left by All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was missing nine games with an abdominal strain. Off the court, McCain instantly became a fan favorite when he did an impromptu TikTok dance for Thunder fans who were at the airport to welcome the team home after the final road trip of the regular season. An entertained Gilgeous-Alexander gladly recorded the dance for McCain with the latter’s cellphone.

Thunder guard Luguentz Dort said McCain actually seemed to fit in with his new team in “two to three days.” Dort added that the California native is a “worker” who is often at the Thunder’s practice facility late at night getting up extra shots.

“The first week or two that he was here felt like he had been here the whole season,” Dort told Andscape. “That is the type of guy he is. That is the type of locker room we have. Really funny and really loud, and he blended in with everyone really quick. …

“The dance was funny. We came back from the last [road] game of the [regular] season, and our fans always show love to us. And when we got back, he was new to it, he didn’t know about it. The type of guy that he is; he was just trying to be fun. He went out there and started dancing and Shai was right by him recording. It was a cool moment.”

Said McCain: “They welcomed me immediately when I got traded. The staff, the team, the city in general. It just felt right when I got here. … But the dance was one of those things where I said, ‘You want to do it?’ We kind of just did it waiting for our bags.

“It was awesome. It was a fun moment for everyone. For Shai to be there and record for me was a cool moment and got me close to a team I really love. I really loved everybody here.”

True to himself, McCain provided some much-needed offense and comedic relief during Game 2.

He banked in a 26-foot 3-pointer during a 11-0 run that pushed Oklahoma City’s lead to 13 points midway through the fourth quarter. He played in the final minute of the win and assisted Gilgeous-Alexander on an 18-foot step-back jumper that gave the Thunder a 120-113 lead with 42 seconds left.

And during a late-game jump shot by Gilgeous-Alexander, the two-time NBA MVP playfully yelled at McCain to quiet down and remain calm.

“Jared was yelling at me while I was shooting. I was like, ‘Bro, I’m shooting. Don’t distract me,’” Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters. “I was literally telling Jared to calm down. That is what great shooters do. They let you know when they’re open. We hashed it out. We’re good.”

What a difference three months has made for McCain going from the Sixers to the Thunder, who are now three wins away from returning to the NBA Finals and giving the second-year guard his first chance to play on the sport’s biggest stage.

“It means the world. The year I’ve had, I can’t even believe I’m here to be honest,” McCain said. “When I pray every day, it’s crazy. To be three wins away, I just want to take one game a time, be present and do whatever I can to help this team win.”

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