The Philadelphia 76ers have started the year with a mediocre 7-15 record but having won four of their last five games, things could be starting to head in the right direction.
One player in particular the Sixers can thank for helping them stay afloat during their early struggles is rookie first round pick Jared McCain.
The former Duke star recorded the most 20 point games by a Sixers rookie since Ben Simmons in 2017-18, after notching up his eighth 20 point game of the year a few days ago against Orlando.
He has also stepped up when needed most as McCain’s already impactful season average of 16.0 points per game rises to 23.8 in the eight games he has been inserted into the starting lineup, as per Statmuse.
This production has been vital for Philly given the games superstar Joel Embiid and All Star recruit Paul George have missed to injury in the first quarter of the year.
Embed from Getty ImagesMcCain has also caused a stir outside of basketball, entertaining followers with TikTok videos and dividing opinion by regularly painting his nails.
Regardless of how many views his TikTok videos have or what colour his nails are, what will truly matter going forward are McCain’s contributions when Philadelphia are at full strength and how he complements the team’s stars, especially as Embiid returned with a 31 point performance, after missing seven games, in their most recent win against Chicago.
Philadelphia’s early season woes may eventually prove to be a blessing in disguise, especially if it has helped McCain become a better player earlier than expected.
