Revenge is a dish served cold and Jared McCain was cool as ice in his return to Philadelphia. 

McCain was one of four Oklahoma City Thunder players with at least three 3-pointers against the Philadelphia 76ers, but his 3-pointers were more damaging as they came not just during crucial moments of the game, but also against his former team. 

It’s great to see McCain having fun on the court again after missing out much of last season due to a meniscus tear in his left knee. Prior to that, he was the frontrunner for the 2024-2025 NBA Rookie of the Year thanks to a scoring run that became one of the silver linings in what turned out to be a tough year for the Sixers. 

McCain’s recovery and return had its ups and downs, and the emergence of VJ Edgecombe made things more challenging for McCain in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, it felt as if he was the odd man out, soaking up garbage time minutes and encountering some cold shooting nights. Such is the reality of the NBA; one night you’re the toast of the town and the next night you’re shoved to the side for a shinier toy.   

Thankfully, the trade to the Thunder changed things. 

McCain entered a situation where the backup point guard spot was his for the taking. With OKC, he was not really pressured to contribute a ton from the get-go as they were playing the long game. The former Duke Blue Devil was eased into the scheme of things and the difference between his time with the Thunder and the Sixers was night and day. 

Year Two in Philadelphia saw McCain average 6.6 points with his field goal percentage below 40 percent. Moving to OKC resulted in McCain nearly doubling his point average (12.3) and on more efficient work too, as he is currently knocking down 46.8 percent of his field goal attempts. The growth has been evident and it’s clear he needed time to get his rhythm back and the Thunder have provided the best environment for such. The 16th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft will likely hit 65 games this season and health will be crucial in how he carves a role now and in the long run. 

But for Jared McCain, he is grateful for this second chance. Things looked bleak for him this season as McCain found himself in a tough spot with the Philadelphia 76ers, who had a logjam in the backcourt. Now, he’s part of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who not only are title contenders but have given him time to return to the best version of himself. Time has pretty much healed all the wounds, and now it’s onto better things.