To say that the Sixers are struggling at the start of the season would still be an understatement. Deprived of Joel Embiid (apart from one match), and despite a returning Paul George, Philly is dragging itself to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. In this situation, it is difficult to find anything positive. However, one man manages to shine in the storm, rookie Jared McCain.
That’s what we call a nice move. By selecting Jared McCain with the 16th pick in the last Draft, the Sixers probably did not imagine that the rookie would perform so well. And yet, the chip man has been going strong since the start of the season, and serves as a rare ray of sunshine in the storm that Philly is currently going through. This night again, despite the defeat, the leader shone, and against the best team in the league please.
Just not enough good things to say about Jared McCain… I knew he’d be good, but him being this good this fast is unreal. Tonight he had:
34 PTS
10 AST
2 STL
6 3PT
He joins Jason Kidd & Steph Curry as the only rookies in NBA history to reach these numbers. Rookie of the Year. pic.twitter.com/A4y8EJCnTN
— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) November 14, 2024
Starting for the first time this season against the Cavs, Jared McCain was XXL. In 38 minutes spent on the floor, the former Dukie shattered almost all his career records, scoring 34 points at 6/13 from distance and 10 assists. A performance in capital letters, but which is ultimately a continuation of his last matches. Against the Lakers a few days ago, the rookie scored 18 points, before scoring 27 against the Hornets, then 23 against the Knicks.
It must be said that the leader is anything but cold in his eyes. McCain is not the type to hide, far from it. The boy has nerve, and is already one of Philly’s best snipers, shooting 39% behind the arc. A pure scorer as we like them, and who seems to gain confidence as the days go by. Enough to allow him to make his way into the race for the Rookie of the Year trophy?
Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey have stepped up big-time in Memphis 💪
Read @AschNBA‘s full NBA App Kia Rookie Ladder below!
— NBA (@NBA) November 13, 2024
Yesterday, the NBA took stock of the favorites for this award at the end of the season, and Jared McCain did not appear on the podium. Not sure that this would have been true if the ranking had been done today, if the leader continues his momentum, his arrival in the ranking promises to be resounding. In the meantime, Sixers fans can be reassured for the next few years, with Jared McCain, it’s all good.
