Jared McCain’s early-season rise offers struggling Sixers a ‘super bright spot’

Another night, another dominant performance by Jared McCain.

In a 76ers season so far filled with injuries and losses, the rookie guard has been the team’s biggest bright spot. And on Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, McCain showed why the Sixers just might have gotten a steal by picking him 16th overall in June’s NBA draft.

McCain finished with career highs of 34 points, 10 assists, two steals, and six three-pointers in a 114-106 loss to the Cavaliers at the Wells Fargo Center. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder joined Jerry Stackhouse, Allen Iverson, and Joel Embiid as the only rookies in franchise history to total at least 100 points over four consecutive games. McCain totaled 102 points across games against the Cavs, New York Knicks (23), Charlotte Hornets (27), and Los Angeles Lakers (18).

And his 34 points are the most scored by an NBA rookie this season.

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McCain was making his first career start as the Sixers (2-9) were playing without All-Stars Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Andre Drummond.

“Again, I just attribute [the career night] to my work,” McCain said. “I work so hard, so I feel like I need these games. I’m starting to learn more about being a lead guard. I feel like in college [at Duke], it was more off-ball.

“So definitely learning the process there, cutting back on turnovers and reading the game a little slower. But then again, I feel like I’m finding my shot, whether it’s midrange, getting to the rim, and obviously shooting the three.”

One knock of his offensive game has been his limitations finishing at the rim. However, the 20-year-old blossomed into a solid midrange shooter since participating in July’s NBA Summer League. And he’s a three-point threat.

“Obviously, another great game for him,” coach Nick Nurse said. “I think the biggest thing was the 10 assists for me. I know 34 is a huge number. Again, he’s kind of mostly been doing it one way. And to do that you are starting to … create. I felt he did a good job for the most part, getting it out to other people to get some buckets. And that’s pretty fast learning, right?

“That’s pretty fast learning because he really has taken a lot of opportunities … getting a lot of shots up, good feel for the game, playing the game the right way. So that’s the most encouraging. But he’s, again, confident and playing well. And it’s certainly a super bright spot.”

» READ MORE: Jared McCain's career-night kept the scrappy Sixers afloat in loss to Cavaliers

McCain is one five Sixers to play in every game. His 13.5 points per game ranks fourth on the Sixers. The California native also averages 2.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 38.5% on three-pointers.

The game definitely has slowed down for McCain, which allows him to read defenses more effectively from possession to possession.

“I’m seeing if the big is pulling over,” McCain said. “I’m seeing if the help is crashing over to the baseline person or if he’s going to lift up the wing when I’m driving baseline.

“So there’s different things slowing down. Whenever I jump, I can even make a decision in the air.”

Initially, the Cavs (13-0) defense gave him a lot of space, then switched to hard closeouts, before eventually trapping him toward the end of the game. None of that mattered, as McCain continued to get buckets.

“It’s pretty cool,” McCain said. “When you notice … they’re not helping off of me. It’s pretty cool to notice that, and it’s cool to hear Donovan Mitchell say something during the game. Like, I can’t say what he exactly said, just good stuff.

“And it’s just cool people that I admired for a long time to say stuff about me and speak positively about me.”

But he’s not surprised by his success.

He’s been utilizing meditation, visualization, recovery, reading, and watching game film to improve as a player since high school. Falling in love with the mental side of sports has helped his confidence.

“I can go out and do a TikTok and dance and still come out and play as well as I can,” he said. “I think that just attributes to my mental [game]. I’m always working on it and always try to improve it.”

But has his visualization included being a full-time starter?

“Not quite, not quite,” he said with a smile. “Just visualize winning basketball games and finding my role. Whatever I can do to help this team win, no matter what it is, I’m going to visualize that.”