Jared McCain emerged as a bright spot in the Philadelphia 76ers‘ 2024-25 NBA season. The rookie guard finished seventh in Rookie of the Year voting, despite only suiting up for 23 games, with eight coming as a starter. Still, even when he wasn’t showcasing his skills on the court, McCain was working to establish himself as part of the Sixers roster behind the scenes.
McCain has developed relationships with multiple members of the Sixers organization, including superstar big man Joel Embiid. In a recent interview with “Sixers on SI,” McCain explained how he didn’t know what to expect before meeting Embiid, but is now comfortable when talking with the former MVP.
“I think, coming in as a rookie, you never know with these superstars how they’re going to be, how they’re going to react to especially me, seeing my social media, a lot of people have that first impression that is not always the best when I meet people. But for him, it was just he was way more chill than I thought it was going to be, and that’s when I first met him,” McCain said. “I think seeing him throughout the season, seeing what the media says, and then actually talking to him in person, it’s like he’s just misunderstood in a lot of ways.
When not playing basketball, McCain is quite active on social media. Therefore, it’s understandable why he was nervous about meeting some of the elder statesmen on the Sixers roster. After all, the difference in generations can sometimes be a stumbling block for a rookie. Fortunately for McCain and for the Sixers, there were no such issues.
Now, with his rookie season in the bag, McCain will undoubtedly be challenging for a larger role within Nick Nurse’s rotation. He will form part of a young and exciting trio, which also includes Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. And, if Embiid can get and stay healthy, he will have a fantastic on-court leader to learn from and help develop his game. McCain is in a great position to develop his game in the coming years. He has talented teammates, a strong and talented coaching staf, and an opportunity to cement himself as part of the rotation for years to come.
Sixers fans have a lot to be excited about.