After a sensational start to his NBA career, Philadelphia 76ers rookie guard Jared McCain has received his first official honor from the league after being named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month.
According to the Philadelphia 76ers, McCain joins Jerry Stackhouse (once), Allen Iverson (twice), Michael Carter-Williams (four times), Joel Embiid (three times), Dario Šarić (two times), and Ben Simmons (four times) as the only players in franchise history to capture the rookie monthly honor.
McCain was drafted with the 16th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, and when the selection was made, there were three conversations frequently had. That the 76ers should have drafted Dalton Knecht, who fell out of the lottery to the Lakers immediately after Philadelphia’s selection, that McCain was redundant next to Tyrese Maxey and, thus, the wrong pick, and that McCain was destined to be dealt by the NBA trade deadline, so his fit on the court was irrelevant.
However, all three of those arguments were quickly and obviously recognized as incorrect. Due to the team’s immense battle with the injury bug, the Philadelphia 76ers found themselves in a position to add McCain to the rotation far earlier than most expected.
McCain did well to seize this opportunity, averaging 16 points per game across 18 games played. During that time, McCain has also started seven games, averaging an impressive 23.7 points in that span.
Coming into the season known primarily as a shooter, McCain has shown off an assortment of skills that not only goes beyond the initial scouting report of his game but also beyond his time in the league.
November’s Rookie of the Month has looked like anything but analyzing the opposition and methodically finding the right shot, while most first-years are hoping to find a shot. McCain has demonstrated an immense amount of knowledge of the game, which has helped him showcase his ability to relocate for the three-point shot. Some have already compared his relocation ability to NBA greats like Steph Curry.
Curry isn’t the only big-name guard that McCain has drawn comparisons to, though. When watching his in-between game, it’s hard not to see another guard Philadelphia got used to cheering for before he became one of the most hated names in town, that being former Villanova Wildcat and current New York Knick Jalen Brunson.
McCain’s ability to leverage his strength and body to draw contact against defenders in the paint is quite reminiscent of the All-Star guard.
McCain himself has acknowledged learning from the Brunsons, Currys, and more of the NBA coming into his career. On an appearance on his teammate Paul George‘s podcast, Podcast P, by Wave Sports & Entertainment.
“I would love to say Jalen Brunson,” McCain said. “Not quite there yet, but Steph Curry, obviously. Steph Curry, of course, I would love to get close to that. I think, like CJ McCollum. Just shorter, stockier guards who can affect the game in multiple ways.”
All three of the aforementioned guards have found ways to overcome their athletic shortcomings, as their athleticism shows itself in ways other than the traditional NBA run-and-jump fashion.
McCain prides himself on being an incredibly hard worker, pointing to that hard work at every turn when praised or reminded of his early-season accomplishments. It’s a trait that McCain shares with his backcourt teammate Tyrese Maxey. It’s also one of the primary reasons why the paring has a chance to succeed moving forward for the 76ers.
While the pair, despite their protest, is undersized compared to the league average at the position, the pair of electric guards is unafraid of constant movement, allowing the opportunity for both to create shots for themselves and others.
With the recent return of Paul George to the lineup and the eventual return of Joe Embiid pending, the future remains bright not just for the Maxey/McCain backcourt but for the NBA’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in general.
