OKC Thunder set to take on injury-depleted Dallas Mavericks in NBA
The Straits Times
Jared McCain is averaging 11.9 points while shooting 48.1% from the field and 45.9% from deep since his trade. Read more at straitstimes.com.
DALLAS – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has played only one National Basketball Association (NBA) game with Jared McCain, but the recently acquired guard has made a big impression for the Oklahoma City Thunder during Gilgeous-Alexander’s injury absence and in their overtime win over Denver.
Gilgeous-Alexander, McCain and the Thunder take on the Dallas Mavericks on the road on March 1 (March 2 morning, Singapore time).
“He has great shooting touch, as we all see,” last season’s Most Valuable Player said. “He’s going to continue to get better as he plays in our system and learns our system more. Yeah, kid’s good. Really talented at basketball. He can grow as much as he wants to. Sky’s the limit.”
The 22-year-old was acquired in a Feb 4 trade with Philadelphia, the day after Gilgeous-Alexander suffered the abdominal strain that kept him out for nine games before his return against the Nuggets on Feb 27. The sample size remains relatively small, but McCain’s production has turned upward significantly during his nine games with Oklahoma City.
After averaging 6.6 points and shooting 38.5 per cent overall and 37.8 per cent on three-pointers in 37 games with the 76ers, he is averaging 11.9 points while shooting 48.1 per cent from the field and 45.9 per cent from deep since the trade.
Where McCain said he has experienced the most growth, though, is on the defensive end as he integrates into the Thunder’s system.
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