They say you should never meet your idols, but Jared McCain doesn’t really have a choice given the current relationship between his new employers and the New York Knicks.
McCain is one of several marquee additions the Philadelphia 76ers have made in an effort to avenge their first-round loss to the Knicks, as the 16th overall pick earlier this summer. The Duke alum was interviewed by fellow Philadelphia player Paul George earlier this week and admitted he was looking forward to facing Jalen Brunson, the current face of the Knicks franchise.
“Brunson, I watched his highlights in college, me and my coach, he sent me a lot of videos,” McCain remembered him on George’s “P Podcast.” “A lot of the highlights were just him in college. So I’ve been watching Brunson for a long time now.”
There probably aren’t many better options for a Philadelphia prospect to follow: Before he entered the NBA, Brunson regularly provided cheers at the Wells Fargo Center, home of the 76ers, as a member of the Villanova Wildcats, who take over the building for high-profile games. McCain said he feels he has some of Brunson’s game in him, but fully admitted he’s “not there yet.”
McCain is coming off a solid campaign in Durham, where he was named to the ACC All-Rookie Team, averaging 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds. Some saw him as an outsider for the playoff rookie nomination, intrigued by how he could potentially space the floor and work with fellow threat Tyrese Maxey. In addition to McCain and George, Philadelphia also welcomed veterans Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon, as well as former Knicks playoff foe Caleb Martin.
The Knicks and Sixers are expected to pick up more or less where they left off: Each team is scheduled to open group play for this year’s NBA Cup/in-season tournament against the other on Nov. 12 in Philadelphia.
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