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Jared McCain’s T-shirt was fresh out of the packaging.
The H-shaped fold mark could still be spotted across the front of his new threads. And the navy-blue “Oklahoma City Thunder Basketball” text popped off the gray base, which hadn’t yet been permeated by perspiration.
That’s because McCain wasn’t sweating the circumstances. The 21-year-old guard’s positivity was palpable as he spoke with the media Friday despite being traded from Philadelphia to OKC just 48 hours prior in a move that shocked many, including him.
“Not at all,” McCain admitted when asked if he expected to be traded. “I had no (gut) feeling. I didn’t think it was going to happen, to be honest. There was nothing.”
Wednesday marked a travel day for Philadelphia, which was going from Golden State to Los Angeles for a game against the Lakers. And McCain was riding the team bus to the airport when he got the call.
The first person McCain shared the news with was Tyrese Maxey, one of his closest friends on the 76ers. Then he told everyone else. And then he had to travel with Philadelphia, now his former team, to Los Angeles before catching another flight to Oklahoma City.
Somehow, McCain still smiled when recounting that story. He blinded reporters with his pearly whites throughout the entire interview, and yet he wasn’t blind to the full range of emotions that come with his experience.
The shock of being traded in only his second NBA season. The pain of parting ways with a franchise that felt like family. McCain let them all sink in, even though he only let his joy rise to the surface.
“I allow myself to feel all of the emotions,” McCain said. “It’s natural. I give myself grace through this process. … I’m definitely still going through it and trying to cope with it.”
Healing takes time. But McCain had to recover from that shock quickly when he joined the Thunder, which is also healing from injuries.
OKC was without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell, who are both dealing with an abdominal strain, during its home game against Houston on Saturday. And that left it in need of backcourt production.
McCain chipped in five points, two rebounds and one assist throughout 14 minutes off the bench in a 112-106 loss. And while there were early missteps that led to a pair of first-quarter turnovers, he eventually hit his stride.
The 6-foot-3 guard showed flashes of shot creation, an ability to knock it down off the catch and a willingness to match the defensive intensity of his teammates.
“He was good,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said. “He hasn’t been here for more than 48 hours, so that’s a really tough spot. But I thought he did a really good job of just blending into the team and blending into the game. He was confident and aggressive, but not inappropriately. He looked like he belonged out there in terms of the way we play.”
The fans at Paycom Center also made McCain feel like he belonged. When he rose from his seat on the bench late in the first quarter to make his debut, so too did everyone else in the arena.
They gave a round of applause for the newest member of the Thunder. A gesture so kind that it even surprised McCain, who came from the City of Brotherly Love.
“It was amazing,” McCain said. “I’ve got to watch the video, but I felt the love right when I entered the game. … It was nuts. Nothing like it.”
That wasn’t the only time McCain felt the love.
He felt it when he received texts from his Thunder teammates following the news of his trade on Wednesday. He felt it when he stepped out of the hotel he’s staying at in downtown OKC on Friday and was greeted by fans.
McCain said he was going to go look for a more permanent place to live after the Houston game. But in a way, it seems like the young guard has already found a home. He looked comfortable in his Thunder uniform, which has a patch of the Love’s Travel Stops logo above the “Oklahoma City” text.
Fitting for a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve.
“It’s just great vibes and good energy,” McCain said while showcasing his signature smile. “I’m happy to be a part of (OKC).”
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.