Entering his rookie season with the The Philadelphia 76ersJared McCain is determined to prove he can be more than just a three-point shooter.
Shooting is what led the Sixers to write the Duke product — and he can really hit the ball from downtown. But he’s going to have to constantly harness that talent to become more versatile on offense. As a defender and playmaker, McCain shows promise but has a lot to prove. McCain has a long way to go before he becomes an NBA star. But that won’t stop him from trying or admiring those who have reached that level.
During an appearance on Wave Sports & Entertainment’s P podcast, where he spoke with new teammate Paul George, McCain dropped Jalen Brunson, Seth Curry, Stephen Curry and CJ McCollum as players with skills similar to his ownsaying they are “smaller, stockier guards who can impact the game in multiple ways.” But the rookie also knows he has a long way to go.
McCain said he’s “not quite there yet” when referring to Brunson, the New York Knicks guard who was used by others as a high-level comparison for McCain before the draft. He said he would “love to be even close” to Steph’s level. His incredible work ethic may be the most important asset he has in his quest to get there.
Jared McCain cites many NBA stars as players to compare
The mention of Curry, one of the all-time greats, and Brunson, a late-blooming superstar, indicates that McCain has high hopes for himself. That confidence is important in the NBA, but he also needs to realize that he can be even better, that he has to catch up to those stars. He’ll have plenty of extra motivation to get started on his career path.
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McCain said he watched Brunson’s highlights in college, observing his crisp footwork and fluid scoring game. Brunson may be more physical than McCain, but McCain isn’t afraid of contact and relies more on changes of pace and downhill runs than speed or explosiveness. The 76ers rookie will primarily be a finisher under the basket, so learning from Brunson’s talents is a good move.
Jared McCain has many veteran guards to work with the 76ers. That will create a barrier to playing time early on, but he’ll have plenty of help early on in his NBA stint.
