Even from thousands of miles away, Jared McCain’s heart is still in Philadelphia. As the 76ers pulled off one of their most thrilling playoff comebacks in recent memory—rallying from a 3-1 series deficit to take down the Boston Celtics in a Game 7 slugfest—McCain was right there, cheering them on like he never left.
Watching Joel Embiid battle through injuries and lead his team to victory, the young guard couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride for his former squad. And despite being blindsided by a shocking trade deadline move that sent him to the Oklahoma City Thunder, McCain insists that bond hasn’t broken.
“I watch them pretty closely. Those are still my guys. Those are my brothers. I’m definitely watching them and always rooting for them, no matter what,” McCain said. “I’ve watched them really closely in these playoffs. They’re the main team I watch.”
For Sixers fans, those words land like a bittersweet jumper in crunch time. While the team celebrates their first-round upset, there’s still a lingering sting over the front office’s decision to trade the 22-year-old to OKC for a handful of low-value draft picks. It felt like McCain never truly got his shot in Philly.
His NBA career started with a flash—quick scoring bursts and instant energy—before a torn meniscus in December 2024 sidelined him for the rest of his rookie season. Then, just as he was working his way back, a torn thumb ligament in training camp buried him on the depth chart behind Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe. Instead of letting him develop off the bench, the Sixers pulled the trigger on a deal that left many fans scratching their heads.
In Oklahoma City, McCain has been a seamless fit as a microwave scorer off the bench. He delivered his first real playoff moment in OKC’s dominant 108-90 Game 1 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, pouring in 12 points and drilling three clutch three-pointers in the fourth quarter to seal the game—especially timely as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled to find his rhythm.
It’s a sweet reminder of what Philly lost. But for McCain, the trade hasn’t soured his love for the city or the teammates he still calls brothers. Whether he’s wearing Thunder blue or Sixers red, his heart remains in the stands, rooting for the team that gave him his start.