76ers News: NBA Draft Analysts Has High Praise for Jared McCain

Draft analyst praises the 76ers rookie amid his impressive run.

Nov 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain (20) in action against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images / Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

While the 2024-25 season hasn't started out the way they might have hoped, there have been some bright spots for the Philadelphia 76ers. Among the most notable is the emergence of rookie guard Jared McCain.

Due to injuries to some of their key players, McCain is someone who has gotten an increased amount of playing time as of late. The former first-round pick has made the most of this situation, showcasing how productive he can be on both ends of the floor. McCain's had multiple noteworthy outings as of late, but one stands out above the rest. That being last week's matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers. In his first career NBA start, he erupted for 34 points and 10 assists.

As McCain continues to dazzle on the floor, the Sixers rookie has received vast amounts of praise. Among the more recent to do so is NBA Draft analyst Sam Vecenie. He recently took to X to share his updated thoughts on McCain. He was high on the guard coming out of Duke, and still feels he underestimated his talent at the next level.

I loved Jared McCain pre-draft and I still don't think I loved him enough. The offense is sick. Such a sharp player. The relocation stuff as a shooter is something I knew he was great at, and I still probably underrated how good he was at it. Just an awesome processor on-court.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) November 16, 2024

Following his outing against the Cavs, Nick Nurse opted to keep McCain in the starting lineup over Kelly Oubre Jr. Even with Joel Embiid and Paul George returning, he still managed to have a productive night. In 31 minutes of action, he posted 29 points and four assists on 58.8% shooting.

Upon getting the chance to play bigger minutes, McCain has quickly emerged as one of the top rookies this season. His averages now sit at 14.8 PPG and 2.4 APG while shooting just over 40% from beyond the arc.

In recent years, the Sixers have shown their ability to find promising talent at the end of the first round. Given McCain's recent play, it appears the front office has managed to find another gem to put alongside their star talent.