標籤: Jared

Monday night was a bit of a homecoming for some players on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their game against the Philadelphia 76ers marked second-year guard Jared McCann’s first game in Philly, returning after being involved in a trade prior to the trade deadline. The game was also important for Isaiah Joe, who spent time with the 76ers prior to his stint in Oklahoma City.

McCann and Joe both played brilliantly off the bench for the Thunder. McCann scored 13 points on 5-11 shooting from the field (with three triples) and two assists, while Joe had nine points on 3-7 shooting from deep, with two assists and two steals. The performances of both players caught the attention of head coach Mark Dagenault, who praised the two 76ers alumni for “staying in character” against his former team.

“It was impressive,” Dagenault said, according to Justin Martinez at X.

The Thunder won easily against the 76ers, 123–103. It was a balanced effort from Oklahoma City: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 22 points to lead her team and added five rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks. Seven players scored in double figures for the Thunder, including McCann and Jalen Williams. Williams, who returned to the lineup after a long absence, had four rebounds and six assists among his 18 points.

For McCann, this game marks facing his former team for the first time since the trade deadline. McCann was drafted by the 76ers in 2024 and had a great start to his rookie season. However, he suffered a torn meniscus early in his rookie season, causing him to miss the majority of his rookie year. After missing the start of the season with a torn UCL, the 76ers traded him to the Thunder at the deadline.

In 19 games for the Thunder this season, McCann is averaging 12.3 points per game on 46.9% shooting from the field and 44% shooting from deep. He is looking to win his first NBA title with the defending champions.

The Philadelphia 76ers suffered a lopsided 123-103 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The 76ers suffered their second loss in four games as they battled their weak lineup.

This was Jared McCann’s first game in Philadelphia since he was shipped to Oklahoma City at the trade deadline. He had another strong performance off the bench, scoring 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including three three-pointers.

After the game, he and Edgecombe had a brief chat on the court and were all smiles.

Edgecombe, 20, had nothing on during the media conference good words To say about your ex-partner.

“I’m happy for him. We still talk here and there. I’m happy to see him having fun and socializing with his teammates and things like that. If you don’t connect with Jared, there might be something wrong with you,” Edgecombe said in a video posted by Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin.

“I’m really excited for him. He made some shots tonight. He warmed up quickly. It’s good to see him out there having fun.”

#sixers Newbie VJ Edgecombe is giving his love and respect to Jared McCain: pic.twitter.com/RHndmnbEW4

– Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) 24 March 2026

Edgecombe led the 76ers with a game-high 35 points on 14 of 28 shooting, including 7 of 15 from long range. He added six rebounds and four assists.

The Sixers played without four of their five starters due to injuries: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Paul George.

Fans envisioned a speedy trio of Maxey, Edgecombe and McCann for the 76ers. However, general manager Daryl Morey did not see it that way and traded McCann to the Thunder for four draft picks.

Since the surprise move has upset the 76ers, McCain is enjoying a resurgence with the defending champions.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain got a standing ovation when he debuted in Monday’s 123-103 win against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. McCann returned to Philadelphia for the first time since his trade to the Thunder. He finished with 13 points on 5-for-11 shooting, including three triples and two assists.

After the game, McCain addressed how he navigated through emotions He said, he felt that way in his first game, according to Justin Martínez of The Oklahoman.

“A little bit. I think it will always feel weird because it happened so quickly, and it’s been almost a month. It was good to be back, but being back here will definitely always feel weird. Coming back and not being here is like a nostalgic feeling. Hopefully it will stop soon, but I still don’t feel like I have closure yet.”

Jared McCain was asked if he thinks he’s able to close a chapter by returning to Philadelphia tonight:

“A little bit. I think it will always feel weird because it happened so quickly and it’s been almost a month. It’s nice to be back, but it will definitely be… pic.twitter.com/sFYHtDSfKb

– Justin Martinez (@Justintohoops) 24 March 2026

All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 22 points on 9 of 13 attempts as the Thunder had six players reach double figures, including Jalen Williams (18 points), who returned from a hamstring injury in Monday’s 20-point win.

Jared McCain expressed his appreciation to former teammates

Thunder guard Jared McCann opened up about his return to Philadelphia, facing his former team as a member of the visiting team for the first time since their trade at the deadline. McCain will never forget the relationships he made During his time with the 76ers.

McCain said, “There are so many people in this organization that have touched me, and have been able to put a smile on my face some days. I’m very grateful for that.” “To be able to see everybody back there.” [are] I still have to meet some people. But seeing a group of guys who helped me throughout my rookie season, through my injury; It’s really great to see.”

“There are so many people in this organization who have touched me, who have brought a smile to my face… I’m very grateful for that.”

Jared McCain had a lot of positive things to say about the 76ers in their game

(via @nba)
pic.twitter.com/ByDPnK0hNx

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 March 2026

McCann and the Thunder are on a 12-game winning streak.

While fans have seen Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCann play some great basketball in his second season, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse isn’t surprised by it. To most NBA fans, the somewhat crowded backcourt resulted in McCann’s departure, leading 76ers fans to question Nurse’s approach amid a difficult season.

McCain working his way back from two injuries slowly gaining momentum With the 76ers before his trade to the Thunder, Nurse explained, according to PHLY Sixers.

The nurse said, “Coming up on 7-for-11 night. He was still dragging the knee brace around for a long time and recovering from an arm injury. I think he was affected by it physically for a long time, but I thought he was coming out of it.” “I was hoping he would start getting back to his big, crazy nights where he can really step up and score a lot.”

With a season-high 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-9 from deep, McCann helped lead the Thunder to a 121–92 victory against the Brooklyn Nets before the defending champions extended their winning streak to 11. The Thunder defeated the Washington Wizards 132-111 on Saturday.

McCann has shot a combined 14-30 from beyond the 3-point arc in his last four contests, hitting four threes en route to 18 points in the Thunder’s win against the Wizards.

Jared McCann on the 76ers’ approach versus the Thunder

Following the recent second-year guard’s election offense, fans questioned 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey over Jared McCann’s trade to the Thunder. One of the few similarities McCann mentioned about the Thunder is how 76ers head coach Nick Nurse uses Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to guide his offense.

For McCain, he sees equal two-man game According to Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman, he said, between himself and Thunder All-Stars Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams.

“It’s crazy. When I was in Philly, Joel used to do this with Tyrese, and I was like, ‘Dang, it’s really cool out there,'” McCain said. “So it’s really fun to be able to be a part of it. Playing with Hart, J-Will and Chet, they’re all elite legends. I’m excited to play with them.”

Jared McCain asked if he had played with a big man who could make the screening a major play, like Isaiah Hartenstein:

“It’s crazy. When I was in Philly, I used to do this with Joel Tyrese and I was like ‘Dang, it’s really cool there.’ So to be able to be a part of it… pic.twitter.com/vTsyiC1P4u

– Justin Martinez (@Justintohoops) 17 March 2026

The 76ers will try to snap the Thunder’s 11-game winning streak on Monday.

As Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCann prepares to face the Philadelphia 76ers for the first time since their trade at the deadline, the second-year guard reflected on the change he’s made and the kind of reception he’s expecting. McCann returns to Philadelphia with the Thunder in search of their 12th consecutive win, as the defending champions are once again the hottest team in the NBA.

As far as McCann’s reception from 76ers fans at their games in Philadelphia as a member of the visiting Thunder, he is expecting a friendly reaction from the fans.

“I’m hoping for the positive,” McCain said. “My friends and family — they ask me what’s going on and what’s going on. So, I know they’re excited to be back. Hopefully it’ll be fun.”

Since his trade to the Thunder, McCann says he has felt the embrace of Sixers fans, despite the fact that he is playing for the defending champions.

“It means a lot. I’ve always loved the Philly fans. They were always very nice whenever I went out, when I got hurt, they were always very positive and very helpful in my opinion,” McCann said. “So, I guess, thank you to him for supporting me through this process and always being there for me.

“The DMs I’ve gotten have been great, and they’re just saying they miss me and my stuff. So, yeah, definitely love the Philly fans.”

Amid the Thunder’s five-game road trip against Eastern Conference teams, McCann scored a season-high 26 points in a 121–92 win against the Brooklyn Nets last week.

Jared McCain questions Thunder’s intentions after 76ers trade

Second-year guard Jared McCann admitted he had to ask the 76ers about his trade a second time. He was so devastated by the news of the trade that he did not go where he was going. Then, once he realized he was headed to the Thunder, he wondered why the defending champions would want him.

McCain said, “They won the championship. Why do you want me? It’s almost a scary feeling about what’s going to happen next.” “You have no clue. It’s just the unknown. But they’ve been nothing but welcoming to me, and it’s been so amazing to be with this team. The vibes are amazing. Just the culture of the organization. This process has been very seamless for me, and I finally landed in a place. So, I’m happy with it.”

McCain joining the Thunder has undoubtedly been a smooth process.

俄克拉荷馬城雷霆隊後衛賈里德麥凱恩自截止日期交易以來首次返回費城參加週一對陣 76 人隊的比賽。麥凱恩自從加入雷霆隊以來一直蓬勃發展，成為主教練馬克·戴尼奧替補席上最可靠的進攻武器之一。他拿下賽季最高的26分，其中包括5個三分球，幫助球隊以121-92擊敗布魯克林籃網隊。

然而，在雷霆隊的五場客場之旅中， 這是一個情感的停留 根據美國廣播公司 6 台的傑森杜馬斯的說法，他承認對麥凱恩來說。

「當我第一次被選中時，這顯然是我一生中被選中最偉大的一天。所以，我將永遠感謝費城，」麥凱恩說。 「對於達裡爾選中我來說，這是一生一次的事情。所以，我永遠不會後悔來到這裡，也不會因為他們選中我而對這個組織產生任何態度。那是最好的感覺。我很感激來到這裡，現在我仍然很感激能回來。”

麥凱恩永遠不會忘記他在 76 人隊期間接觸過的人，包括球員、教練和球隊的醫務人員。

「我從我所接觸過的所有獸醫那裡學到了很多東西——凱爾 [Lowry] ——每個人，」麥凱恩補充道。「團隊；教練們。醫護人員幫助我度過了兩次傷痛。那裡 [are] 這個組織幫助了我很多沒有被媒體報導的小事情，我將永遠感激他們。我努力不要太情緒化。我非常非常感謝76人隊讓我成為我自己。 」

賈里德·麥凱恩告訴我，作為一個來到他熱愛的城市的遊客，他在比賽前的經歷很奇怪。

昨晚，他與前杜克大學隊友、現任賓州大學球星 TJ Power 在這座城市打出了「雙結」。

很明顯他仍然對費城充滿熱愛 pic.twitter.com/FnTWakwyGK

— 賈森‧杜馬斯 (@JDumasReports) 2026 年 3 月 23 日

雷霆隊希望在周一對陣 76 人隊的比賽中延續他們的 11 連勝。

馬克戴尼奧特談雷霆隊的賈里德麥凱恩

雖然他的三分球手感使他成為雷霆隊最具殺傷力的射手之一，但賈里德·麥凱恩也讓他在球場的另一端感受到了他的存在。雷霆隊總教練馬克·戴尼奧特讚揚了麥凱恩的防守努力。在賽季中期適應一支球隊從來都不是一件容易的事。

戴尼奧解釋了麥凱恩如何輕鬆地融入他的雷霆新隊友。

「他確實融入得很好。他正在學習他的隊友。他正在學習我們的系統和我們強調的基礎知識，」戴尼奧說。 「我認為，特別是在上半場，他有一些非常好的防守回合，這非常令人鼓舞。他在致力於我們的基本原則以及我們在防守端需要做的事情方面做得非常好。

“顯然，他是一名非常強大的進攻球員，但他放棄了一些身材，需要變得非常基礎和活躍，而他做到了，尤其是最近。”

整個三月份，麥凱恩場均得到 12.6 分，投籃命中率為 45.5%、42.9%、81.8%。

The Oklahoma City Thunder are not lacking in depth as they defend their title this season. Nevertheless, general manager Sam Presti managed to add another impact bench piece in Jared McCann at the trade deadline.

Stepping into a reserve role following his trade from the Philadelphia 76ers, McCann has made an immediate impact. The 22-year-old had his best performance of the season during Wednesday’s 121-92 win over the Brooklyn Nets, scoring a game-high 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field and 5-of-9 from three.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said, “He’s definitely integrated well. He’s learning his teammates. He’s learning our system and the fundamentals that we emphasize.” “I thought in the first half, especially, he had some really good defensive possessions, which has been really encouraging. He’s done a really good job of committing to our fundamentals and the things we need to do on the defensive end of the field. Obviously, he’s a very powerful offensive player, but he gives up some size and needs to be really fundamental and powerful, and he’s done that, especially lately. So we’re happy with the progress he’s made there.” And he continues to be a fan favorite in the locker room just the way he approaches things since he was traded here.”

After a stellar rookie campaign, McCann struggled early this season with the 76ers while returning from a thumb injury to his shooting hand. Philadelphia sent him to the G League in January before dealing him to the Houston Rockets for a 2026 first-round pick and three second-round picks at the deadline.

Jared McCann is making an immediate impact in the Thunder’s rotation after trade

McCann has quickly found his groove in the Thunder’s battle-tested rotation. The former Duke star is averaging 11.9 points on .475/.444/.885 shooting splits in 18.8 minutes per game in 18 appearances with the team. Oklahoma City posted a 109.3 defensive rating during his minutes, which would rank second in the league for the entire season.

McCann credited the Thunder’s coaching staff for easing his transition after the surprise deadline deal.

McCann said, “When you first get traded, you don’t know anything about what’s going to happen, especially when you find out you’re being traded to a championship team. So I didn’t have high expectations for myself.” “Just coming in and trying to learn as much as possible, which is hard because you don’t know what’s going on. But once you go out there with these guys, they give me confidence. It’s really simple. The coaching staff helped me right away. Not giving me too much information, just letting me play, letting me play my game.

“They’re champions already, so it’s just being able to fit in somehow. I think Sam Presti did a great job knowing how I would fit in. But this offense is amazing. Being able to move the ball and play with shooters, playing with guys that are specialized in the pick and roll is huge. It makes it a lot easier to come in and fit in, especially with the way I play.”

The Thunder hold a three-game lead over the NBA’s top-seeded San Antonio Spurs with 12 games remaining. McCain will compete for playoff minutes with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe and Ajay Mitchell in the backcourt rotation.

McCain said, “It’s great to be on a team that is the number one seed. It’s one thing to just have playoff hopes, and then it’s really cool to be the number one seed and try to defend it.” “Especially with them [defending] Champion. I’m just trying to come in and play every role I can to help make this team a champion again. “I’m really confident going to any game with these guys.”

It took very little time for Jared McCann to carve out a role with the Oklahoma City Thunder after being shipped off to the Philadelphia 76ers at the trade deadline.

McCann helped the Thunder destroy the Brooklyn Nets 121-92 on Wednesday, scoring a game-high 26 points on 9-16 shooting, including five three-pointers. He also had three rebounds and two assists.

With another strong performance from McCann, fans couldn’t help but roast 76ers general manager Daryl Morey for letting the high-scoring guard go.

As a reminder, Morey had said that he was “completely confident” that they were making a “high sell” with the decision to move McCain.

@grandepadre94 said, “Daryl Morey might be the best GM the Thunder have ever had.”

@LobTies said, “We all know Daryl Morey doesn’t like watching Jared McCain play well.”

“Daryl Morey is hellbent on making OKC even better, brother,” Posted @dh__32.

Daryl Morey is going to hell to make OKC even better bro https://t.co/A7s4JTSnXV

— Dar Dar Binks (@dh__32) 19 March 2026

“It’s unbelievable that Daryl Morey still has a job,” @winningdream said.

@JerrySisco8 commented, “Daryl Morey has always been an idiot.”

@BKB639 predicted, “Jared McCann will have a big game in a meaningful playoff series, and we’re all going to talk about how much of an idiot Daryl Morey is.”

When the 76ers sent the 22-year-old playmaker away after particularly impressing in his rookie stint, many were surprised, including McCann himself. In exchange, Philadelphia received four draft picks from Oklahoma City.

McCain missed the first month of his sophomore year due to a right side injury and initially struggled to regain his form, while also seeing a reduced role following the arrival of VJ Edgecombe. Nevertheless, many considered McCain an important asset. But apparently, Morey didn’t see it that way.

This season, the former Duke standout already has four 20-point games with the Thunder, while only one game with the Sixers.

Oh my god, the Jared McCann trade is the gift that keeps on giving to the Philadelphia 76ers; Not quite in the way many fans would have expected.

While the red, white and blue are improbably winning without their Big 3, thanks to the big play of a different random player in every outing, McCann is thriving in Oklahoma City, looking like the player Thunder fans saw during his rookie campaign but never thought would be on their team next season.

And the worst part? Mark Dangeault’s willingness to run plays through McCann highlighted how poorly the 76ers utilized the Duke sharpshooter during his sophomore season.

Discussing his experience with Thunder veterans setting screens for him, McCann said he always loved watching Joel Embiid screen for Tyrese Maxey in two-man games, but he rarely had that chance until landing in Oklahoma City.

“It’s crazy. When I was in Philly, I used to do this with Joel Tyrese, and I was like, ‘Dang, it’s really cool out there,'” McCain said, via Justin Martinez. “So it’s really fun to be able to be a part of it. Playing with Hart, J-Will and Chet, they’re all elite legends. I’m excited to play with them.”

Jared McCain asked if he had played with a big man who could make the screening a major play, like Isaiah Hartenstein:

“It’s crazy. When I was in Philly, I used to do this with Joel Tyrese and I was like ‘Dang, it’s really cool there.’ So to be able to be a part of it… pic.twitter.com/vTsyiC1P4u

– Justin Martinez (@Justintohoops) 17 March 2026

Now understandably, these comments did not sit well with many 76ers fans, who flooded Martinez’s comment section with demands for Nick Nurse’s job. Some called him incompetent, others suggested he should be “blown in the sun”, and others still took a step further, requesting a clean house, including president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and even the Harris Blitzer Group, which has long been the subject of ridicule for its cap-skirting tactics.

Will the 76ers get the last laugh? Technically, McCann is only averaging 11.4 points per game in Oklahoma City, or about four fewer points than his run in Philadelphia in 2024-25, but as he becomes more comfortable and his minutes continue to increase, that number will increase in no time, making any talk of “overselling” difficult to swallow.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City Thunder adding Jared McCann to a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers is a gift that keeps on giving for the defending champions, as the second-year guard helped lead the way to a 116-103 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. McCain connected on his fourth and fifth 3-pointers in a two-minute span, cutting the Thunder’s lead to 15 in the fourth quarter.

McCain finished with 15 points on 5-for-10 shooting, including five threes and a steal. For a three-player Deep Thunder team that finished with 15+ points in Sunday’s win, Isaiah Joe’s 20 points (five threes) led the second unit, and Alex Caruso added 17 points, the trio combined for 52 points, including 11 threes. That was enough support to keep the Timberwolves away.

Then, Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished his 128th consecutive 20+ point game, scoring a 3-point game in the final minutes that brought him to 20 points. He also finished with 10 assists, two steals and a block. The Thunder have won eight consecutive games, including hard-fought victories against the Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets during their four-game home stand.

What Mark Daigneault has learned about the Thunder’s Jared McCain

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault continues to learn about Jared McCann during the second-year guard’s first month with his new team. For Daigneault, it’s McCann’s offense that stands out the most, as he fits in seamlessly with his new Thunder teammates.

“His shooting ability. He’s a guy you have to make runs off the line, which opens up some of those drives. I didn’t know his game well, especially that part of his game — those mid-range games show his strength,” Daigneault said. “He’s going downhill, and he’s able to absorb contact and rise up and shoot a balanced rhythm shot, which is harder than it looks. He makes it look easier than it is. So, he’s done a great job.”

McCann has made at least one 3-pointer in 14 of his first 15 appearances for the Thunder. He is averaging 11.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game on 41.2/39.5/89.4 percent shooting splits.

俄克拉荷马城——俄克拉荷马城雷霆队在与费城 76 人队的交易中签下了贾里德·麦凯恩，这对于卫冕冠军来说是一份持续不断的礼物，这名二年级后卫帮助球队以 116-103 战胜了明尼苏达森林狼队。麦凯恩在两分钟内连续命中第四个和第五个三分球，将雷霆队的领先优势在第四节扩大到15分。

麦凯恩10投5中得到15分，其中包括5个三分球和1次抢断。在周日的胜利中，雷霆队拥有三名得分超过 15 分的阵容，以赛亚·乔 (Isaiah Joe) 得到 20 分（投中 5 个三分球）领先第二阵容，亚历克斯·卡鲁索 (Alex Caruso) 贡献 17 分，三人加起来得到了高达 52 分，其中包括 11 个三分球。这足以让森林狼队陷入困境。

随后，雷霆全明星谢伊·吉尔吉斯-亚历山大连续第128场比赛得分超过20分，并在最后几分钟投进三分，将分差推至20分。他还贡献了10次助攻、2次抢断和1次盖帽。雷霆队已经连续八场比赛获胜，其中在主场对阵森林狼队、波士顿凯尔特人队和丹佛掘金队的四场比赛中取得了艰苦的胜利。

马克·戴尼奥特对雷霆队贾里德·麦凯恩的了解

雷霆队主教练马克·戴尼奥在贾里德·麦凯恩加入新球队的第一个月里继续了解这位二年级后卫。对于戴尼奥来说，麦凯恩的进攻最为突出，因为他与雷霆队的新队友配合得天衣无缝。

“他的投篮能力。他是一个你必须冲出底线的人，这会打开一些驱动力。我不太了解他的比赛，尤其是他比赛的那部分——那些中距离的表现展示了他的力量，”戴尼奥说。 “他开始走下坡路，他能够吸收身体接触并站起来并投出平衡节奏的投篮，这比看起来更难做到。他让它看起来比实际更容易。所以，他做得很好。”

麦凯恩在雷霆队的前 15 场比赛中，有 14 场至少命中 1 个三分球。他场均贡献 11.2 分，投篮命中率为 41.2%、39.5%、89.4%，还有 2.5 个篮板。

NEW YORK — In the visitors’ locker room at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams called attention to the massive smile on Jared McCain’s face.

“He’s so happy,” Williams said.

Williams addressed McCain directly: “What are you so happy about?”

“We won!” McCain said.

Oklahoma City had just eked out a 103-100 victory against the New York Knicks, improving to a league-best 49-15. It had also improved to 9-3 since acquiring McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers, despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missing nine of those games and Williams missing 10.

“Oh, you played in Philly, you’re not used to that shit,” Williams said.

“What do you mean?” McCain responded. “They’re like sixth in the East.”

The truth is that McCain is as cheerful a character as you’ll find in the NBA. Regardless of the situation he’s in, he tries to “turn it into a positive,” he told me. And in his first month with the Thunder, the reigning NBA champions, there was a lot to smile about.

McCain has played 12 games for his new team, and he has scored at least 20 points in three of them. The 6-foot-3 guard has averaged 11.9 points in 19.2 minutes per game on 47/41/90 shooting splits, flying off screens and knocking down midrange jumpers and 3s with the same pep in his step that he had before his knee injury last season, at which point he was the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.

76ers’ trade deadline mismanagement is latest own goal for franchise that can’t get out of its own way

John Gonzalez

To be clear, McCain never wanted to leave the Sixers. He was “completely blindsided” by the trade, he said. He is “really grateful,” though, to have landed with Oklahoma City for a number of reasons.

McCain loves the way that the Thunder play. “This offense is amazing,” he said, praising the team’s collective chemistry and unselfishness. He loves playing off Isaiah Hartenstein, the big man Gilgeous-Alexander described as a “dream” to play with after just two regular-season games last season.

“It’s being able to find where I want the ball but also find my man after he passes the ball, when he drops the passes,” McCain said. “Or being able to just pitch it and then come off. Just that little bit of space is all a shooter needs to get something off. And if I got a little bit of an advantage, I know I can either get to the bump mid or get to a 3.”

He loves the way that coach Mark Daigneault thinks. Anyone who has been around the team has heard Daigneault talk about being present, having a 0-0 mindset and resilience being a muscle you can build. McCain is a devoted re-reader of “The Inner Game of Tennis” — when I mentioned the book, he showed me the copy he had in his bag — and has practiced meditation and visualization since he was in high school. 

“When you can mesh like that with a coach, it’s really awesome,” McCain said, recalling his first meeting with Daigneault and general manager Sam Presti before the 2024 draft.

“Being able to just talk to them about, ‘How is Shai so good?’ It was process-oriented, the daily habits,” McCain said. “It’s the consistency, the discipline. That’s all stuff that I love. I love that ‘Atomic Habits,’ the ‘1% Better,’ the do one thing, get really good at it, then focus on the next thing. It’s been really cool to just have conversations with them, get to know ’em, because it’s the same mindset I have.”

Early in McCain’s sixth game with the Thunder, he ran a throw-and-go with Hartenstein, drove baseline, kicked the ball out to Cason Wallace and then relocated for an open 3. If one possession demonstrates his promise, it’s this one. He is a threat with the ball in his hands and can be an even bigger threat when he gets rid of the ball.

For all of the people who started launching deep 3s because of Stephen Curry, few NBA players have tried to blend off-the-dribble shooting with off-ball movement the way he does. McCain said that, because he idolized and studied Curry — and because he played next to elite ballhandlers at Centennial High School and Duke — he has always tried to get involved in the game through movement, rather than “just standing in the corner waiting for something to happen.” He knew, coming into the NBA, that this would make him stand out. He also knew that, as a defender, your instinct is to relax when the guy you’re guarding makes a pass.

“You stop and you look at the ball,” McCain said. “You’re taught that. It’s basically once your guy gets in the paint and he passes the ball out, you can kind of be in help. But once you’re able to just get back out quick and take those backpedal shots or get-out-quick shots, those are the ones that are some of my favorites.”

With not only Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams but guard Ajay Mitchell sidelined when he arrived, McCain has given OKC a timely spark. Daigneault said that McCain has played his game with confidence while having respect for the Thunder’s continuity and what they’ve accomplished.

“That’s a very fine needle to thread,” Daigneault said. “The last guys that did that well were Hartenstein and Alex [Caruso], but they did it in the preseason with a build-up. And they’re veteran players. It’s a huge testament to him. He’s found that balance right off the bat. He’s earned a lot of respect from everybody because of that.”

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Brad Botkin

Daigneault also said, though, that it would have been fine if McCain had gotten off to a rough start. “You don’t know, when you trade for a guy, how they’re going to integrate,” he said. For the Thunder, this has been a process of “discovery” — they’re not trying to fit him into a specific role, but letting his role emerge naturally.

“We’re just kind of like throwing him out there,” Daigneault said, “and telling him to play inside the team and telling him kind of the non-negotiable things, the fundamental things that everybody has to do. And then give him a level of breathing room around that to figure out how to play, have his teammates figure out how he can play with them.”

As challenging as it is to drop everything, move to a different city and try to adapt to a new team in the middle of a season, there can be something psychologically freeing about being traded. For McCain, there has been a lot to learn, but there has been no expectation that he would pick it all up immediately. This environment, so far, has been ideal.

“They allow me to be myself,” McCain said. 

Before the trade, McCain did not always feel or look like himself on the court this season. Coming off a torn UCL in his right thumb and a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee, he tried to shake off almost a year’s worth of rust on a team that was winning games and had a much more crowded backcourt than it did before he got hurt. 

On the first anniversary of his 34-point game as a rookie, he shot 3 for 10 in his first G League game. There were some encouraging moments — he caught fire in a back-to-back against Charlotte and Milwaukee in late January — but, in 37 games for the Sixers, he averaged just 6.6 points on 50.6% true shooting.   

“I have nothing bad to say about none of the teammates, none of the coaches, but it’s just hard to find a rhythm playing with really great players and getting little short spurts,” McCain said. “There were a few games, for sure, that I felt great. I feel like those were the ones where I got to play a little extended minutes, play through some mistakes.”

McCain said it’s “nobody’s fault” that he didn’t consistently find his form in Philly. “I knew it was going to take time,” he said. “It’s even still taking time. I feel great right now, but sometimes, you know, some days are better than others.”

With Tyrese Maxey playing at an All-NBA level and rookie VJ Edgecombe looking like a star in the making, McCain “wasn’t thinking about a trade at all,” he said. He was confident that his opportunities would come and that he could grow alongside them.

“I definitely thought it could work,” McCain said. “Long-term, I definitely think it could work. I loved playing with them. It was really fun. And I’m going to miss it, too. So I think there was definitely potential there, but they made the best decision for what they thought it was and we’ve just gotta live with it and kind of move on.”

Philadelphia sent him to Oklahoma City for a first-round pick and two seconds. He is aware that a large portion of the Sixers’ fanbase was upset. In the moment, he was too.

“I’m right there with the fans,” McCain said. “I was scared, man. I didn’t know. I was emotional with it, it was a lot going on and it was hard to process. So I’m forever still grateful for Philly. It’s always hard. Like, you don’t get to say goodbye. It’s really like a breakup.”

The call from Sixers general manager Daryl Morey was to the point. Afterward, he flew with the rest of the team from San Francisco to Los Angeles as scheduled, shedding tears as he got on the plane. While everybody else had a game against the Los Angeles Lakers the next day, he flew from L.A. to OKC. 

“They call you and it’s just so, like, cold, almost,” McCain said. “It’s like, damn. They drafted me. It just feels like it just ended so quickly. The call that you get traded is, like, ‘Hey, we just traded you,’ and that’s kind of it. So it’s really, it’s almost sad. It’s really sad. It really is sad. Like, I’m an emotional person. I really, like, I love all those people over there, like the staff, like the medical staff, the coaching staff. The teammates, like, those are like my brothers. I really looked up to a lot of ’em and hung out with all of ’em. It’s sad that you don’t see ’em every day.”

At a press conference the day after the trade deadline, Morey called McCain “a great future bet and a potential great player,” but also said that he thought the team was “selling high” and was better off with the draft picks, which he described as more than a typical return for a starter-level player on a good team. Morey’s transparency only amplified the discussion around the deal, which basically boiled down to how to properly value a player who was about to turn 22.

“It’s really weird sometimes, like, hearing people talk about what you’re ‘worth,'” McCain said. “And it’s because I’m really, you know — there’s a human aspect to it that a lot of people skip over. So hearing stuff that he said in the media, it’s like, ‘Damn. Is that how you really felt?’ ‘Cause I feel like I treated everybody with respect and love. So it’s definitely tough to hear sometimes, but you gotta understand it’s a business and they’re doing what they feel is best.”

McCain described the trade as sad, weird and emotional, but the whirlwind of it all can also be funny. He remembers being “kicked off” Philadelphia’s team-run group chat “pretty immediately.” He needed Gilgeous-Alexander’s help to get into the practice facility in Oklahoma City because he wasn’t set up in the security system yet, as documented on his vlog. He thinks he still has a few black jerseys in the Sixers’ practice facility. At some point, he’ll put away a bunch of Philly gear in his new attic.

“I just moved into my new place and I don’t even know where stuff is right now,” McCain said. “My mom moved me in. I’m going back to the house for the first time. This will be the first time, tonight, when we get back. It’s a lot of stuff that’s very humorous.”

Right after the trade, Kyle Lowry told McCain, “This is supposed to happen.” Seventeen years ago, the Memphis Grizzlies traded Lowry to the Houston Rockets for a first-round pick, having drafted Mike Conley to play his position the previous summer. (Ironically, Morey was the buyer in that transaction.)

“He knows how hard I work, and he just told me, ‘Go do your thing,'” McCain said. “And he’s always there for me if I need him. Really, anybody on that team, like, if I call ’em, I know they’ll be there: Tyrese, Jo, PG, VJ. All of ’em, man. They really helped me. And VJ just called me like two days ago to just talk.”

McCain is looking forward to playing against his former team in Philadelphia on March 23. “I love Philly to death,” he said, “and I’m excited to go back in later March, just to feel the vibes and see all the people again and just say a proper goodbye.” 

Right now, though, he’s doing his best to stay present with the Thunder. “When you take a step back and just kind of look at everything going on, it’s all for good,” he said. “It’s all going to be positive and work out for me.” He’s still getting himself situated in OKC, but he couldn’t be more comfortable with how things are going.

“I’ve loved every moment of it,” McCain said.

Oklahoma City Thunder veteran Alex Caruso addressed Jared McCann’s impact in his first 12 games with his new team, and explained why he is a better fit for the defending champions than the Philadelphia 76ers. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault discusses what he has learned about McCann during his first dozen games.

Caruso gave the most credit to the Thunder front office, trade for McCain is ahead of this year’s deadline, he said, according to The Young Man and the Three podcast.

“For us, we do what we do as players, but the front office, as far as the fit, that’s probably the biggest compliment they can give me,” Caruso said. “The way Jared plays is like a mini I-Joe, like Isaiah Joe Light, not like the same player, but coming from the same movements, but the way they’re able to use their skill sets to shoot and move.”

Alex Caruso used an example from the Thunder’s 121–113 win against the Cleveland Cavs, where McCann drove to the rim, passed the ball to Joe before shifting to the corner for a deep three. For Caruso, it’s that style of play if the 76ers didn’t run their offense through McCann.

“I don’t think Philly played that way,” Caruso said. “I think they’re a lot more traditional because of Joel [Emiid]And, of course, Tyrese [Maxey] Very much on the ball. But for us, it is like freedom of movement. An open man is a right man. I think it benefits his game.”

“He’s playing the right way.” – Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein talk about why Jared McCann has fit in so easily with the OKC Thunder 🚨 New Thunder YM3 Out Now Everywhere 🚨 pic.twitter.com/epcOgO84l6

-TheOldManAndTheThree (@OldManAndThree) 6 March 2026

McCain is averaging 11.8 points on 41.5% shooting, including 39.5% from deep, and 2.2 rebounds per game with the Thunder.

Mark Daigneault on learning about Thunder’s Jared McCain

The apparent departure of 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey to the Thunder’s Jared McCann ended the second-year guard’s tenure, and marked a new start with the defending champions. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault discussed McCann’s fitness after practice on Friday and told reporters how he has learned about his game so far.

“His shooting ability. He’s a guy you have to make runs off the line, which opens up some of those drives. I didn’t know his game well, especially that part of his game — those mid-range games show his strength,” Daigneault said. “He’s going downhill, and he’s able to absorb contact and rise up and shoot a balanced rhythm shot, which is harder than it looks. He makes it look easier than it is. So, he’s done a great job.”

Daigneault and the Thunder will host the Warriors on Saturday at Paycom Center.

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault says Jared McCann’s consistency stands out. Still, he’s learning a lot about his second-year guard after a deadline trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. Amidst the injuries in the defending champions’ backcourt, McCann’s fit with the Thunder has been seamless. Over the course of a dozen games, he is averaging 11.8 points on 41.5/39.5/88.9 percent shooting splits and 2.2 rebounds per game.

Additionally, McCain’s Mid-range touch has devastated opponentsThat’s an aspect of his game Daigneault says he wasn’t familiar with until McCain joined the Thunder, he said, according to Thunder Wire’s Clemente Almanza.

“His shooting ability. He’s a guy you have to make runs off the line, which opens up some of those drives. I didn’t know his game well, especially that part of his game — those mid-range games show his strength,” Daigneault said. “He’s going downhill, and he’s able to absorb contact and rise up and shoot a balanced rhythm shot, which is harder than it looks. He makes it look easier than it is. So, he’s done a great job.”

Mark Daigneault on Jared McCain’s mid-range game: “He’s a guy you’ve got to run off the line, that opens up some of those drives. I didn’t know his game well, especially that part of his game, the mid-range game shows his strength. He’s driving downfield and he’s … pic.twitter.com/ICzCnh3l86

– Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) 6 March 2026

Daigneault also praised McCann for being a secondary playmaker for the shorthanded Thunder, who are missing players like Ajay Mitchell, who has been out since January, and Alex Caruso, who has been in and out of the lineup. All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned from an abdominal injury in Friday’s 127-121 overtime win against the Denver Nuggets.

He had not played since Feb. 3, and Caruso, dealing with a left hip injury, left Wednesday’s 103–100 win against the New York Knicks, as did Isaiah Hartenstein with a left calf injury.

Jared McCann continues to grow for the Thunder

Across a 12-game sample size, Thunder guard Jared McCann has made his presence felt on both ends of the floor, making life easier for his new teammates. In the recent 121-113 win against the Cavs, Jaylin Williams and McCann led the Thunder’s bench production while the defending champions were playing without All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell and Alex Caruso.

Isaiah Joe, who got the nod to start for Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, explained how McCann’s influence opened up offensive opportunities he didn’t have before.

“It puts the defense in a dilemma whether to help or not, and it kind of creates driving lanes, even when they went box-and-1, and they made that run, we were still getting really good looks,” Joe said. “I think Lou got some wide-open shots – Jay-Will, Chet. The shot didn’t fall, but given that severity, we just try to find ways to either get looks, take shots, and a lot of times it creates opportunities for other guys, and creates other opportunities for everybody else.”

McCann and the Thunder will look to extend their four-game winning streak when they host the Warriors on Saturday.

费城 76 人队周二以 131-91 输给圣安东尼奥马刺队，士气尤其低落，费城 76 人队在国家电视台上的一场 NBC 复古比赛中表现得令人尴尬。正如发生此类损失后的情况一样，情绪会变得非常放大。

赛后，76人队后卫泰瑞斯·马克西 表达了他的感受 关于他的球队决定交易贾里德·麦凯恩的决定，76人队主席达里​​尔·莫雷对此进行了辩护，称他们正在高价出售 2024 年首轮选秀权。

“贾里德是我们的亲密朋友。伟大的队友。伟大的人。我绝对认为我们想念他。当然。我不会撒谎说我不想念贾里德，”马克西通过 NBC Sports Philadelphia 说道。 “但我为他感到高兴。我看着他 [in] 俄克拉荷马城。确保我希望他每晚都表现出色。”

“我不会撒谎说我不想念贾里德。” pic.twitter.com/qjHNT9hJpT

— NBC 费城体育频道 (@NBCSPhilly) 2026 年 3 月 4 日

尽管如此，马克西表示，76人队并没有过多关注他们无法控制的事情，因为这就是野兽的本性。

“我不认为我们正在考虑这个问题…… [But] 这归根结底是一桩生意。我见过很多人被交易，但我不想被交易。你不能老想着这个，”马克西补充道。

76人队现在可以使用贾里德·麦凯恩

76人队决定交易麦凯恩的理由并不难理解。他们有如此多的后卫深度，随着马克西成为球队的主要后卫选择，而VJ Edgecombe与他并肩作战，麦凯恩最多只能成为球队的第六人。

尽管如此，76人队仍然有着雄心勃勃的雄心，拥有麦凯恩这位三分线外投篮出色的后卫可能有助于缓解他们对深度的担忧。相反，他们现在不得不看着麦凯恩追随以赛亚·乔的脚步，成为他们输给俄克拉荷马城雷霆队的另一位才华横溢的后卫。

The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off a particularly disappointing 131-91 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, in which Philly gave an embarrassing effort on national television in the NBC Throwback Game. And as is often the case after this type of loss, emotions can run high.

After the game, 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey expressed how he feels Regarding his team’s decision to trade Jared McCann, which 76ers president Daryl Morey defended by saying they were selling high on their 2024 first-round pick.

“Jared was a close friend of ours. Great teammate. Great guy. I definitely think we miss him. Absolutely. I won’t lie and say I don’t miss Jared,” Maxey said via NBC Sports Philadelphia. “But I’m happy for him. I look up to him.” [in] Ok. Sure I expect him to perform well every night.

“I’m not going to lie and say I don’t miss Jared.” pic.twitter.com/qjHNT9hJpT

– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) 4 March 2026

Still, Maxey said the 76ers aren’t focusing too much on what they can’t control, because that’s just the nature of the beast.

“I don’t think we’re considering it. … [But] It’s a business at the end of the day. I have seen a lot of people trading, but I don’t want to trade. You can’t pay attention to that,” Maxie said.

The 76ers could use Jared McCain right now

The reasoning behind the 76ers’ decision to trade McCain isn’t so hard to understand. They had a lot of guard depth, and with Maxey established as the main guard option for the team and VJ Edgecombe alongside him, McCain was going to perform best as the sixth man for the team.

Nonetheless, the 76ers have contending aspirations, and McCann, a guard who shoots well from beyond the arc, could help ease their depth concerns. Instead, they now have to look at McCann as another talented guard following in the footsteps of Isaiah Joe who they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Oklahoma City Thunder decided to trade some of their valuable future draft picks to bring in Jared McCann via trade from the Philadelphia 76ers. McCann has yet to recapture the heights he hit during his incredible, yet short, rookie season in Philly, but it looks like he’s on the way back, if his recent contributions to his new team are any indication.

On Tuesday night, the Thunder’s first night of back-to-back sets without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, head coach Mark Daigneault had to rely on McCann for an extra offensive boost. That’s exactly what McCann provided, scoring 20 points off the bench to lead OKC in scoring. He shot 8-15 from the field (4-9 from deep) and did everything OKC expected of him and more.

After the game, Daigneault revealed how McCain become a valuable weapon For Thunder.

“I mean the word is ‘consistency’. I think he really has everything consistent. He’s a consistent guy day in and day out. He’s a great worker. He makes consistent plays, he never gets out of his game. He’s always ready to play,” Daigneault said in his postgame presser, via Adam M. Francisco of Suave Report.

Asked Mark Daigneault what he’s seen behind the scenes from Jared McCain that contributed to their integration in such a short time. pic.twitter.com/PnBuAOO0T6

– Adam M. Francisco (@SuaveCEO_) 4 March 2026

Every good Jared McCain Thunder game is like a stab in the heart for 76ers fans

With the way McCann stepped up during a disastrous 2024-25 campaign, he quickly became a fan favorite in Philly. He was cut short due to a torn meniscus, but he seemed to have a place in the team for the long term.

Instead, the 76ers traded him to the Houston Rockets for a 2026 first-round pick and three second-round draft picks, so they could also avoid the luxury tax. At just 22 years old, McCann is looking like a savior for the Thunder – 76ers fans are seeing a repeat of the mistake the team made when they let Isaiah Joe go.

A few days ago the Los Angeles Lakers got a big win against the Golden State Warriors, but it was not good throughout the game. There was a moment when Luka Doncic came out of the game, as he walked to the bench, JJ Redick grabbed his wrist in an attempt to talk him down.

Doncic didn’t seem like he wanted to talk and moved his wrist away from Redic. The head coach followed Doncic until he reached his seat and the two had a conversation. Redick got the last word, and as he walked away, Doncic stood up as if he wanted to follow him. Additionally, Jared Vanderbilt stood up to Doncic so he wouldn’t chase Redick, and fans applaud him for doing so.

Luka had to back up from JJ Redick pic.twitter.com/cwyB61XAmy

– BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) 2 March 2026

“Shout out to Jared Vanderbilt,” one user wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

A second user wrote, “Vanderbilt clearly has the ability to try and spread the word here, while alternatively making it appear he is cheering. A+ teammate.”

Another user wrote, “Extend the wand. And put him in the fourth quarter for defensive purposes in close games against good teams. Thanks.”

A fourth user wrote: “Hats off to the man who is standing and stopping Luca from moving forward.”

Vanderbilt got a lot of props for standing up to stop Doncic from doing whatever he planned to do, but that would have drawn a lot of unnecessary attention.

It seems like Redick was probably holding Doncic accountable for something he did, and the Lakers star didn’t like what was said. They have probably recovered from the situation now, and can focus on the rest of the season while trying to get back on track.

The good news is that the Lakers have won their last two games, but they have some tough games coming up on their schedule.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCann cried when Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey traded him. The news came as a shock to the second-year guard, who celebrated his 22nd birthday in a city he never thought he’d call home. Still, McCann has shined since joining the Thunder. Amidst an increased role due to a plethora of injuries, he has been a constant source of inspiration off coach Mark Daigneault’s bench.

McCann is averaging 14.0 points on 50.0% shooting, including 50% from deep on 9 of 18 attempts, along with 3.5 rebounds in 21.2 minutes over his last four games with the Thunder. He scored 10 points to go along with a season-high 21 points in a 105-86 win against the Brooklyn Nets, including a pair of threes, three rebounds and a steal in Sunday’s 121-113 win against the Cleveland Cavs.

Without All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell and Alex Caruso, Isaiah Joe joined the Thunder’s starting lineup, while McCann and Jaylin Williams combined to lead the bench with 20 points. Against a healthy Cavs team led by All-Stars Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and James Harden, Joe’s 22 points, including six threes and a career-high five steals, led the Thunder to victory.

After the win, Joe explained how the addition of McCann has opened up creative opportunities for the Thunder’s offense, which is finding ways to win without three of its top four scorers.

“It puts the defense in a dilemma whether to help or not, and it kind of creates driving lanes, even when they went box-and-1, and they made that run, we were still getting really good looks,” Joe said. “I think Lou got some wide-open shots – Jay-Will, Chet. The shots didn’t fall, but given that severity, we just try to find ways to either get looks, take shots, and a lot of times it creates opportunities for other guys, and creates other opportunities for everybody else.”

Joe is 33 of 65 (50.8%) from deep in February, including 18 of 31 in his last four games. The Thunder have won four of their last five tries without Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Mitchell. Meanwhile, the Sixers are leading 1-4.

Jared McCann felt ‘all the emotions’ after trade with Thunder

76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey was confident about trading Jared McCann to the Thunder for a 2026 first-round pick and two future second-round picks. While the 76ers had a bit of a logjam at the guard position, as rookie VJ Edgecombe took over a dominant role over McCann, many fans felt it was too early to give up on the second-year guard.

Moray felt differently and wasn’t afraid to say itAs they did, according to NBC Sports Philly.

Morey said, “I’m pretty confident we were selling high. Obviously, time will tell, but the only other high point, and we weren’t looking to sell, I would say frankly.” “Teams came to us with aggressive offers for him, and you can say, yes, it’s because he’s a good player. I agree with that. We thought this return was above what we could have gotten, for the future value to our franchise. So the only high point would have been his performance last season. But otherwise, we think we’ve done well this time.”

“I’m pretty sure we were selling high” 😐

Daryl Morey explains why the Sixers pulled the trigger on trading the No. 16 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Jared McCann. pic.twitter.com/DM6qJyzmPk

– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) 6 February 2026

McCain couldn’t believe it. He revealed how he found out about his trading days after the deal was made.

“We were all on the bus to the airport, and I just got a call. I had no idea. I honestly didn’t think it was going to happen. There was nothing, and I got the call, and just went and told everybody. I went to Tyrese [Maxey] First of all, and it was very emotional,” McCain said.

However, his confidence never wavered after the 76ers said a hollow goodbye to Daryl Morey after trading McCann before this year’s deadline.

McCain said, “I allow myself to feel all the emotions. It’s natural. Give myself grace through the process.” “But you move fast. I got to L.A. and then had to come straight here. It’s a little bit of both. It’s a balance you have to work on.”

The Thunder will travel to face the Raptors on Tuesday.

The Boston Celtics are back from the All-Star break on a mission. They beat the Golden State Warriors in their first game after the break and had a solid start against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.

The Celtics have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, behind the Detroit Pistons. And they have won 10 of their last 13. The Celtics are hoping to continue their winning ways against the Lakers on a night when the franchise will honor legendary head coach Pat Riley.

The Celtics weren’t fazed in the first half. They took a 60–50 lead into the locker room at halftime, and they had stellar performances from starters Jaylen Brown (13 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists) and Derrick White (10 points, 5 assists) and Payton Pritchard (11 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists) off the bench.

Pritchard made an incredible move when he hit a Step-back 3-point shot In the middle of the second quarter. During the game, he pretended as if he was going inside and Laker defender Jared Vanderbilt drove towards the paint. Instead, Pritchard took a step back and hit a 3-pointer. As the shot hit the net, Vanderbilt lost his balance and fell to the floor, 20 feet away from Pritchard.

If that wasn’t enough, Pritchard had the ball as the clock ran out in the final moments of the second quarter. As soon as the horn sounded, he hit a long 3-pointer over Luka Doncic, giving the Celtics a 10-point lead midway through the game.

俄克拉荷马城——俄克拉荷马城雷霆队后卫贾里德·麦凯恩在以 105-86 战胜布鲁克林篮网队的比赛中拿下赛季最高的 21 分。在雷霆队连续第六场没有谢伊·吉尔吉斯-亚历山大的比赛中，麦凯恩在球队开始前得到21分，领先俄克拉荷马城队得分。

麦凯恩，多年来新球员的传统是什么 首次亮相他的树皮 据 FanDuel TV 报道，这是他第一次代表雷霆队接受采访时。

贾里德·麦凯恩在雷霆赛后采访中咆哮😂 pic.twitter.com/tdMDjD7PqZ

— ESPN 上的 NBA (@ESPNNBA) 2026 年 2 月 21 日

新的雷霆球员赛后咆哮是由贾伦·威廉姆斯和杰林·威廉姆斯在出席的球迷和离场采访中发起的，最终成为所有雷霆新球员的必备品。

马克·戴尼奥赞扬雷霆队的关键调整

在雷霆队在接下来的一到两周内失去谢伊·吉尔杰斯·亚历山大和贾伦·威廉姆斯之前，主教练马克·戴尼奥特表示，虽然周五对阵篮网队的胜利并不漂亮，但他的球员们找到了方法。雷霆队的防守在第二节将篮网队的分差限制到了10分。随后，下半场找到了进攻节奏。

对于戴尼奥特来说，吉尔吉斯-亚历山大、威廉姆斯和阿贾伊·米切尔的缺席打乱了雷霆队进攻的一致性，迫使卫冕冠军必须即时调整。

“我们显然缺少一些控球创造者。因此，我们现在试图创造优势的方式有所不同，”戴尼奥说。 “但是一旦我们创造了优势，一旦我们取得了领先，这些比赛就没有什么不同了。我认为我们有一些非常好的比赛。我也认为我们有一些可以学习的地方。我们有很多失误。这不是一场干净的进攻比赛。

“其中一些比赛很难建立节奏，但球员们都处于良好的位置。显然，我们必须开始集体增强我们的肌肉，但我们也需要继续在进攻端养成这些习惯。”

雷霆队将在周日的一场比赛中迎战骑士队。

The Philadelphia 76ers were widely expected to make a cost-cutting move before the trade deadline, as that is how their front office has operated over the past few seasons. He has shown an aversion to paying the luxury tax, and for better or worse, he has ensured that he does not stray above the tax apron.

However, the 76ers found the tax savings they were looking for in an unexpected place. They traded their 2024 first-round pick, Jared McCann, who had shown so much promise before tearing his meniscus, to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2026 first-round pick (from the Houston Rockets) and three second-round picks.

Now, McCain is turning his attention to the defending champion. On Friday night, he scored 21 points on 7-12 shooting from the field in the Thunder’s 105–86 win over the Brooklyn Nets. He starred for an OKC team that was missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, and McCann’s emergence has given OKC more room to rest those key guys — much to the dismay of 76ers fans.

76ers fans crying over Jared McCann loss after big night for OKC

The 76ers’ decision to trade McCain was a surprising development, as it looked like he was going to be part of the team’s core for the near future, given how well he played in his rookie season.

Now, McCann is playing well for the Thunder, and 76ers fans are heartbroken that the guy they picked is working for a different team in his second year campaign.

Sixers fan RN after trade of Jared McCain https://t.co/50ysWG7DFf pic.twitter.com/QM3mv0TSnt

– Chilinwari (@chilinwari) 21 February 2026

“Jared McCann playing so well shows just how bad Nick Nurse is on this roster,” wrote X user @Youdownwith_LNV.

@TimeoutSPORTS3 said, “The Sixers gave Jared McCain practically nothing. Non-serious organization.”

@Glenjr1988 added, “I was right about Jared McCain. I mean Sam Presti traded for him.”

76ers president Daryl Morey said they were “highly sold” on McCann. Only time will tell whether this is actually the case or not. However, everything is not looking good for Philly at the moment.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain scored a season-high 21 points in a 105–86 win against the Brooklyn Nets. In the Thunder’s sixth consecutive game without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, McCann’s 21 points led Oklahoma City in scoring before his team’s debut.

McCain, this has become a tradition for new players over the years debuted its bark During his first walk-off interview for the Thunder, according to FanDuel TV.

Jared McCain is barking in his Thunder postgame interview ??? pic.twitter.com/tdMDjD7PqZ

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 21 February 2026

The new Thunder Player Postgame Bark began when Jalen Williams and Jaylin Williams introduced it to fans in attendance and during walk-off interviews, and eventually became required for all new Thunder players.

Mark Daigneault praises Thunder for making major adjustments

With the Thunder missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams for the next one to two weeks, head coach Mark Daigneault says that although Friday’s win against the Nets was not good, his players found a way. The Thunder defense held the Nets to 10 points in the second quarter. Then, found their offensive rhythm in the second half.

For Daigneault, the absence of Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Ajay Mitchell has disrupted the Thunder’s offensive continuity, forcing the defending champions to make quick adjustments.

“We’re obviously missing some on-ball creators. So, the way we’re trying to create an advantage is different right now,” Daigneault said. “But once we get the lead and once we move the ball, those games are no different. I thought we played some pretty good plays. I also thought we had some plays we could learn from. We had a lot of turnovers. It wasn’t a clean offensive game.

“It was tough to establish a rhythm with some of those plays, but guys are being put in good positions. Obviously, we have to start building our muscles collectively, but we also have to continue to develop those habits offensively.”

The Thunder will host the Cavs in a matinee on Sunday.

明尼蘇達維京人隊傳奇人物賈里德·艾倫不一定會放棄四分衛 JJ·麥卡錫，但他有自己的擔憂。這位前防守端鋒相信，對於這位正在崛起的三年級信號呼叫者來說，2026 年將是成敗的一年，他的背已經可能陷入困境。

艾倫知道麥卡錫有機械問題需要解決，但他主要關心的是這位 23 歲球員的傷病問題。艾倫表示，他看到了麥卡錫的“潛力”，但維京人必須利用他們的冠軍窗口，不能讓 2026 年又成為失敗的一年。

“我現在最大的問號是，孩子能保持健康嗎？”艾倫在《Up & Adams Show》中說道。 “我認為他有一些勇氣。顯然，他有一些很好的潛力，但你必須保持健康，你必須留在這個聯盟的球場上。我認為這就是問題所在。”

“我最大的問題是可以 [J.J. McCarthy] 保持健康……如果你不能保持健康，你就無法成為首發。 ”

HOF’er 賈里德·艾倫表達了他對維京人四分衛最擔心的事情@heykayadams pic.twitter.com/IYvnWsJxUa

— Up 和 Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) 2026 年 2 月 11 日

艾倫知道維京人隊迫切需要麥卡錫，以最大限度地利用賈斯汀·杰斐遜和喬丹·艾迪生的幫助。出於這個原因，這位43歲的球員不希望看到他的前球隊再浪費一年的明星接球手的黃金歲月。

“從維京人的角度來看，你看到的是聯盟中最好的接球球隊之一。我們能堅持多久？我們的防守讓聯盟變得炙手可熱，但每個人都在變老。他們每年都在變老，這些部件開始脫落。所以你在等待JJ在第五年、第六年、第七年成熟，突然賈斯汀·杰弗森已經10年、12年了。整個動態發生了變化。”

麥卡錫在 2025 年賽季結束時傳球 1,632 碼、11 次達陣和 12 次攔截，傳球成功率為 57.6%。他以高調結束了這一年，在最後四場比賽中總共取得了 7 次達陣，並出現 3 次失誤，但他在第 16 週手部受傷，阻礙了他的勢頭。

麥卡錫因半月板撕裂缺席了整個新秀賽季，只打了維京人隊 17 場比賽中的 10 場。自從明尼蘇達隊在 2024 年 NFL 選秀中以第 10 順位選中他以來，他只參加了 29% 的比賽。

前費城 76 人隊後衛賈里德·麥凱恩已正式加盟俄克拉荷馬城雷霆隊，馬克·戴尼奧透露，自 2024 年選秀以來，管理層一直在關注這位二年級射手。在本週截止日期之前，雷霆隊與 76 人隊交易來了麥凱恩。總經理薩姆·普雷斯蒂深入挖掘他的資產寶庫，拿出了一張 2026 年首輪選秀權和三個未來第二輪選秀權，並將其滑過桌子。

普雷斯蒂換來麥凱恩並不令戴尼奧感到意外，他說他是 渴望融入他的新射手 根據《體育畫報》的瑞蘭·斯蒂爾斯的說法，他盡可能自然地融入雷霆隊的進攻。

“賈里德是一個非常好的孩子。在選秀過程中我們花了很多時間和他在一起。我們的球探當時很喜歡他，並且在他的 NBA 職業生涯中繼續喜歡他，”戴尼奧說。 “所以，他一直是 Sam [Presti] 那群人的其他人也都注意到了。我們認為他非常適合這個團隊。首先，也是最重要的一點，像我們這樣的團隊既成功又具有連續性，這對 Sam 來說非常重要。

“他向我們明確表達了這一點；引進那些能唱我們歌曲的人。我們認為他是從這塊布上剪下來的。我們對此感到鼓舞，現在，問題只是以一種非常有機的方式整合他。不試圖強迫任何事情。而且，給他一個機會來加強團隊。他也不是來這裡做一個旁觀者。所以，這看起來如何還有待觀察，但我們對加入他當然感到興奮，”戴尼奧總結道。

馬克·戴尼奧談賈里德·麥凱恩 pic.twitter.com/nJCnnL0GV9

— 瑞蘭·斯蒂爾斯 (@Rylan_Stiles) 2026 年 2 月 6 日

麥凱恩的投籃數據，尤其是從接球就投的角度來看，無疑適合擁有高效射手的雷霆隊。賈里德的運球投籃命中率在 NBA 中排名第 81%，接球就投的三分球命中率為 42.1%。這位二年級後衛的職業生涯三分球命中率為 38.1%。

雷霆隊球員對賈里德·麥凱恩交易的反應

雷霆隊老將傑林·威廉姆斯對賈里德·麥凱恩的到來感到興奮。雖然威廉姆斯知道麥凱恩給球場帶來的影響，但他也期待與這位二年級後衛建立聯繫，因為社交媒體上的球迷已經在向兩位 NBA TikTok 專家索取娛樂內容。

“當然是偉大的球員——偉大的射手，”威廉姆斯說。 “老實說，我這個賽季沒有看過很多76人隊的比賽。所以，我不知道這個賽季會是什麼樣子。但從上個賽季我就知道他是領先的新秀之一。我知道他是一名出色的球員。化學反應很好。我被貼上了一堆標籤，說我們要一起製作TikTok等等。從我在聯盟聽到的消息來看，我知道他是一個很有趣的人。

“我不記得那是什麼時候，但在維加斯的某個時候，我、他和威格斯一起在電梯裡，我們只是聊天。當時他是一個很酷的傢伙，我相信他會成為一個非常酷的人。”

戴尼奧表示，目前還沒有任何消息證實麥凱恩將在周六雷霆隊主場對陣火箭隊的比賽中首次亮相。

通過進入第十屆超級碗，新英格蘭愛國者隊完成了 NFL 歷史上最急劇的一年逆轉之一。愛國者隊後衛賈里德·威爾遜表示，這主要歸功於明星四分衛德雷克·梅耶，他最大的進步是精神上的調整。

威爾遜在 2025 年 NFL 選秀第三輪被選中後，與梅耶同時加入球隊。在短短兩年內，他看到梅耶作為領導者的顯著成長，他相信這推動了他的成功。

“我可以告訴你，在那群人中，他的信心和說話方式都增強了很多，”威爾遜通過《波士頓先驅報》的安德魯·卡拉漢說道。 “現在它是如此具有統治力和自信。以前也是如此，但你可以看出他只是提升了一個檔次。你可以感覺到。”

說話輕聲細語的梅耶在球迷眼中並不是一個聲音很大的人，但他的隊友們卻對他在更衣室裡所受到的尊重贊不絕口。

梅耶在第六週擔任首發後，作為新秀，取得了 2,276 傳球碼、15 次達陣和 10 次攔截。這是一個良好的開局，但他還有幾個方面需要改進，即在首發次數中出現 12 次失誤。

球迷們期待梅耶在第二年取得飛躍，但很少有人預測到他進步的幅度。梅耶以 4,394 碼傳球、31 次達陣、8 次攔截和 4 次沖球達陣結束常規賽，傳球成功率高達 72%。在周四的 NFL 榮譽秀中，他是贏得美聯社 NFL MVP 獎的熱門人選。

NFC 冠軍賽在公羊隊和海鷹隊之間進行。這是兩隊本賽季第三次交鋒，前兩次交鋒均是主場獲勝。第三場比賽將在西雅圖舉行，所有人都在關注這場比賽和賭注：獲勝者將進入超級碗。兩支球隊也都知道其中的利害關係，公羊隊沖鋒賈里德·弗斯在本週談到訓練時也說了同樣的話。

當與媒體談論訓練中的能量時，賈里德·弗斯表示，現在的水平與以前完全不同。 Verse表示，一切都經過了更多的思考，每個球員看到錯誤都會指出錯誤，這使得事情變得更加激烈。

“這是 NFC 錦標賽，”Verse 說道。 “你必須真正追求它，但不，我只是做了一點額外的有氧運動。本週的能量只是不同，顯然，你總是想追求它。你想贏得每場比賽，但這是一場重要的比賽。”

事實證明，Verse 在 NFL 期間也一直是個垃圾話高手，有人問他是否想在這場比賽中對陣海鷹隊以進入超級碗。不過，他的性格卻更加壓抑。

韋斯看了看公羊隊的一名公關成員，然後又轉向麥克風，諷刺地傾身說道：“是的。”

房間裡爆發出一陣笑聲後，Verse再次看向公關人員，說道：“我不應該提供任何公告牌材料。”

值得注意的是，Verse此前曾表示，在海鷹第16週的比賽之前，他最不喜歡海鷹。那場比賽被證明是海鷹隊後來居上的勝利，而區別在於公羊隊沒有獲得主場優勢，而不是西雅圖隊。

公羊隊整個賽季的防守都很穩固，而Verse 是其中的一個重要關鍵。他總共完成了 58 次鏟球、35 次單打、7.5 次擒殺和 3 次被迫掉球。韋斯和公羊隊的其他球員都知道比賽的利害關係，他們的練習習慣也反映了這一點。