Sixers fans had a mostly negative reaction to the team’s trade deadline moves, particularly the trade that sent 2nd-year guard and fan favorite Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for three draft picks.
The move was definitely not one the fans expected.
Now, imagine hearing the news… and being McCain.
Friday the newest member of the reigning NBA champions met the media, and he was asked if he had any inkling that he would be moved this week.
“No. Not at all,” McCain said. “We were on the bus to the airport and just got a call. I had no feeling. I didn’t think it was gonna happen, to be honest. I got the call and I just went and told everybody. I went to Tyrese [Maxey] first. It was pretty emotional.”
Jared McCain on if he knew he’d get traded: “No. Not at all. We were on the bus to the airport and just got a call. I had no feeling. I didn’t think it was gonna happen to be honest. I got the call and went to Tyrese first. It was pretty emotional.” pic.twitter.com/CbRht7xoDm
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) February 6, 2026
McCain was starting to find his stride after a career that has spent more time off the tracks than on them. Then he’s thrown this bombshell and has to start over, all over again, for a new team. He mentioned going right to his backcourt mate, Tyrese Maxey, when he heard the news. Maxey shared his disappointment before last night’s game.
“Just sad,” Maxey said. “Like a little brother to me, dog. Like the first real rook [I’ve worked with] I guess. He was emotional and stuff, but I’m happy for him.”
“Hopefully he gets an even better opportunity over there to succeed. He’s got a fan in me for life.”
“Little brother to me dog”
Tyrese Maxey reacts to the Sixers trading Jared McCain to the Thunder before the NBA trade deadline. pic.twitter.com/wLk8gEsEFP
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) February 5, 2026
Maxey added that McCain moving on is “part of the business,” and that not having his little brother around with feel “just different.”