Jared McCain makes his much-anticipated Oklahoma City Thunder debut, stepping into a crucial role amidst key injuries. Get ready for his immediate impact.
Oklahoma City Thunder fans need zero extra motivation to tune in to Saturday afternoon's game against the Houston Rockets.
After all, the Rockets are the #4 seed in the West. It's a nationally televised game on ABC. And even one decade later, any time former Thunder superstar turned rival Kevin Durant comes back to OKC, the matchup is must see TV for Oklahoma City fans.But the third game in this season series brings a whole new reason for Thunder fans to either make their way to The Paycom Center or stay glued to the broadcast at home.
Today's game will feature the OKC debut of the team's newest member, Jared McCain.
"Since I've seen this group together, it's been just great vibes from the outside," the former Philadelphia 76er said in his first Thunder postgame practice presser. "I felt like I could fit into this team pretty easily. Everybody's been really welcoming to me. I'm just grateful to meet everybody and get to know everyone during this time."
Hopefully for the Thunder's sake, McCain will be right about fitting into the team easily. Because he may be called on to play some big minutes immediately. McCain was a 76er as recently as Wednesday morning. On Thursday, he landed in Oklahoma City. He had his first Thunder practice on Friday. And by Saturday at 2:30pm central time, McCain may be OKC's most qualified ball handler and shot creator.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is going to miss every game through the All-Star Break. Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell remain out and their timelines are unknown. Those are Oklahoma City's three creators, playmakers and offensive engines. Fortunately, the injury report did bring good news in the form of the returns of Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso. So OKC will have talent, depth and defense. But they could use an injection of offense.
Enter McCain.
While not nearly the shot creator nor playmaker to the level of Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams or Mitchell, McCain can go and get his own shot. He has gravity. Defenses will account for him. In a pinch, he has the ability to initiate some Thunder offense.
The playmaking duties will be a team-wide thing on Saturday. No single player will be the guy. But McCain will be a part of that equation. The newest Thunder player is hoping to mesh quickly with his teammates on the court, all the while getting to know their names.