76ers’ Jared McCain Faces Tough Reality as Both TikToker and NBA Player

Philadelphia 76ers rookie guard Jared McCain has already made a name for himself in two major fields even before stepping onto an NBA court. McCain, who was sensational at Duke last season, dazzled the college basketball scene with his exceptional scoring prowess. On another note, he’s also become a viral sensation on TikTok, amassing an impressive 3.7 million followers.

McCain’s fame is so extensive that many recognize him more for his social media presence than his basketball achievements. In a recent episode of Podcast P with Paul George, McCain discussed the challenges and experiences of balancing his dual fame.

“It’s TikTok. It’s TikTok for sure,” McCain remarked when asked about his primary claim to fame. “I get called TikToker more than basketball player by far. Especially in college, outside of Cameron Indoor, fans would just wait outside but it was all people just there for my TikToks.”

The Philadelphia 76ers picked McCain with the No. 16 overall selection in the 2024 NBA Draft. His lone season in college was quite successful, as he averaged 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting a remarkable 41.4% from beyond the arc. This former Duke standout is expected to slot in alongside breakout star Tyrese Maxey and new addition Paul George on the perimeter for the Sixers.

The Sixers have experienced several playoff disappointments during Joel Embiid’s tenure, and the former MVP big man is yet to reach a conference final despite various roster changes around him. Daryl Morey made some significant moves this offseason, aiming to overcome this hurdle and providing Embiid with perhaps his best supporting cast to date.

One of the major offseason acquisitions for the Sixers was Paul George, who is known for his two-way prowess on the wing. Morey managed to secure George from the Los Angeles Clippers with a four-year max contract, replacing Tobias Harris, whose time in Philadelphia had been rocky. George addresses two of the Sixers’ key needs: shooting and perimeter defense. In addition, the team signed Eric Gordon to further enhance their shooting and defense, albeit to a lesser extent.

The addition of Jared McCain was seen as a big win by many 76ers fans, considering he surprisingly fell to them during Draft night. His playing style is a perfect match for Tyrese Maxey’s, with Maxey being a quick and agile scorer who thrives in the paint, and McCain being an elite shooter who can also handle the ball, thereby easing the load on Maxey.

With a roster bolstered by these key additions and if Joel Embiid manages to stay healthy throughout the season, the Sixers might finally have their best opportunity yet to not only reach the Eastern Conference Finals but possibly go even further.