Former 76ers guard Jared McCain pens farewell message to team

Former Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain wrote a farewell message to his former team Thursday.

McCain, who was traded to Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, said goodbye to Philadelphia in an Instagram post.

"Philly, I'm so grateful for everything," McCain said. "The love the city showed, my teammates and staff becoming family. It will always be a home for me and incredibly blessed to be drafted here. So much more to say but just want to say thank you Philadelphia."

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The Sixers traded McCain to the Thunder for a 2026 Houston Rockets first-round pick and three second round picks.

McCain was selected No. 16 overall by Philadelphia in the 2024 NBA Draft. He averaged 15.3 points and 2.6 assists as a rookie but played in just 26 games due to injury.

He missed the start of this season due to a thumb injury and never found consistent minutes. McCain posted 6.6 points per night in 37 games, averaging 16.6 minutes a game.

The emergence of rookie guard VJ Edgecombe hurt McCain's chances to find a bigger role with the Sixers. Edgecombe has been a mainstay in the starting lineup, emerging as a franchise building-block.

Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes were ahead of McCain on the depth chart, limiting his opportunities. It's a swift and unceremonious end to his time in Philadelphia.

McCain gets a fresh start in Oklahoma City, which boasts the league's best record. He's making $4.2 million this season and is under contract through the 2027-28 season.

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