"Most insane feeling I've ever felt" - Rookie Jared McCain gets real on what donning 76ers jersey means to him

Jared McCain made his preseason debut for the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night against the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL. McCain got real on what it was like to wear the Sixers jersey for the first time in a game and what it meant to him.

Speaking to Sixers team reporter Lauren Rosen after the game, McCain and fellow rookie Adem Bona were asked about their feelings following their first preseason game in the NBA. The Duke product called it "insane" to realize a lifelong dream and felt so many emotions he could not comprehend.

"That was the most insane feeling I've ever felt in my entire life," McCain said. "I was nervous, excited, but it was the best feeling ever."

Jared McCain came off the bench, but his preseason debut started with two quick fouls. McCain quickly recovered and gained his composure to finish with a team-high 15 points as the Philadelphia 76ers made easy work of the New Zealand Breakers 139-84.

The 20-year-old rookie went 5-for-14 from the field, including 4-for-9 from beyond the arc. He was fighting through screens on the defensive end and was making hustle plays. He got comfortable as the game went on, impressing teammates Tyrese Maxey and Andre Drummond.

"He was good. He made shots," Maxey said, according to USA Today. "We talked a little bit about impacting the body defensively. It's crazy me saying that, but, yeah, he was good, man. Aggressive, wasn't nervous, wasn't scared, played great."

Drummond added:

"He's a very good player. Very, very good player. I didn't get to see much of him while he was at school, but being with him throughout all of September, and seeing him today in the NBA game, I mean, he's ready. He's ready right now."

The Sixers will continue their preseason on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. They have four more games after that before opening the 2024-25 season at home versus the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 23.

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Coach Nick Nurse impressed with Jared McCain's preseason debut

Coach Nick Nurse impressed with Jared McCain's preseason debut. (Photo: IMAGN)

The Philadelphia 76ers worked on their depth this offseason, possibly making it hard for rookie Jared McCain to crack coach Nick Nurse's rotation. However, Nurse came out impressed with McCain's tenacity on defense and his shooting touch beyond the arc.

"He can get him up, man," Nurse said, as per USA Today. "He comes off screens hard, he's got a confined space to get open, he's got a pretty decent drive game on top of it. I think the best thing is he plays hard, super engaged at both ends, but he provides a 3-point threat, right? Quick release, all that stuff, so it's really important."

The Sixers' depth chart has Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr., Paul George, Caleb Martin and Joel Embiid as the starters. Players likely coming off the bench are Kyle Lowry, Eric Gordon, Guerschon Yabusele and Andre Drummond. McCain is likely going to battle minutes with Gordon and Ricky Council IV.