The Philadelphia 76ers have confirmed the third-year contract option for guard Jared McCain. This decision locks him in on their roster through at least the 2026-27 season. This choice follows McCain’s encouraging rookie year, where he showed a ton of potential despite being hampered by injuries.
Chosen 16th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft from Duke, McCain came in and made an immediate impact. The hits kept coming after he played in just 23 games in his rookie season. He led all rookies, finishing with 15.3 points per game. His prowess on the scoreboard was helped by his 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebound average in 25.7 minutes of playing time.
McCain was able to show off his sharpshooting abilities from long range. He’s fourth among all rookies in three-point shooting at a wild 38.3% clip! His shooting streak set a new NBA rookie record, making at least three three-pointers in eight straight games. He scored 20 or more points in seven consecutive games. This performance on a primetime stage solidified him as an absolute steal and dynamic rookie asset for the Seattle Seahawks.
Unfortunately, McCain’s progress took a major reversal with the onset of injuries. In late September, he injured the UCL in his right thumb. This injury led to him missing the start of the 2023 season. On December 13, during a game against Indiana, he suffered a season-ending torn meniscus in his left knee, further complicating his sophomore season.
Daryl Morey, the president of the Philadelphia 76ers, tweeted that this is the first step on exercising McClain’s contract option. This move illustrates the team’s commitment to developing McCain as a key player for the future, despite his current challenges with injuries.
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