OKC Thunder guard Jared McCain often gets his nails done before every NBA game. Before Thursday’s showdown against the LA Lakers, the combo guard shared a TikTok video of somebody coloring his nails. For the matchup against the Lakers, he used a nail polish labeled “Work Hard Play Pink” and two other colors.
Fans reacted to the viral clip. One fan wrote:
“Don’t let Jaden Ivey see this s**t.”
Another fan added:
“I’m not gon lie. I couldn’t root for this mf if he was on my team.”
One more fan continued:
“Lol. That s**t is working. He is k*lling players out here coming off that bench in OKC.
Another fan commented:
“At this point, he’s just rage baiting people.”
One fan tweeted:
“Wonder what Jayden Ivey thinks about this.”
Jared McCain hasn’t confirmed or denied that he is gay but because he colors his nails before games, some have already made their assumptions. In the video, he said that the practice has become his “superstition,” a reason why he has kept up the trend. McCain has also gained even more fans on social media due to his rather unusual style.
Jaden Ivey was dragged by some fans into their reactions after the Chicago Bulls cut him on Monday for anti-gay comments. Ivey called the NBA’s celebration of Pride Month “unrighteousness.” The Bulls also released the guard for his controversial comments on religion.
While some may find McCain’s off-court style eccentric, it is hard to argue about his impact off the bench. The former Philadelphia 76ers combo guard has added shooting and playmaking to an already loaded Thunder roster.
Against the LA Lakers, Jared McCain contributed eight points, on 4-for-6 shooting, two rebounds and two assists. McCain and Co. had a blast in whipping their outmatched opponents 139-96.
Jared McCain Has Played Better Following His Trade From Philadelphia to Oklahoma
In 27 games for the Philadelphia 76ers this season, Jared McCain averaged 6.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per outing. McCain struggled to find minutes in Nick Nurse’s rotation after coming off a meniscus tear in 2024 and a thumb injury during training camp. With the emergence of rookie VJ Edgecombe and veteran Quentin Grimes, a staple in Philly games, McCain became expendable.
Before the trade deadline, the 76ers agreed to a trade with the Thunder for McCain. Philadelphia received a 2026 first-round pick and three second-round picks for the 16th pick of the 2024 draft.
Despite playing behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jared McCain has been more productive with the Thunder. He is averaging 10.7 ppg and 2.2 rpg. McCain, who shot 38.5%, including 37.8% from deep with the 76ers, owns a 46.2% and 40.2% efficiency with the Thunder.
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