Jalen McDaniels Claims ‘Energy is Different’ Playing With Sixers

In his fourth NBA season, Jalen McDaniels was likely on pace to miss the playoffs once again. Being with the Charlotte Hornets since 2019-2020, McDaniels’ teams have struggled to clinch a spot in the postseason. At this point in the year, the Hornets are 16-43, sitting in 14th place in the Eastern Conference.

Following a practice session last Thursday, McDaniels was shocked when he was notified he would be traded ahead of the NBA’s deadline. After getting a call from his agent, McDaniels was told he was set to join the Philadelphia 76ers.

Going from one of the Eastern Conference’s struggling franchises to a yearly playoff contender on the Sixers, McDaniels wasn’t sure what to expect. After his first game on the bench as an observer last Friday, McDaniels mentioned that he loved the atmosphere in Philly.

After getting two games under his belt, he compared the two situations he’s dealt with this season after his 27-minute shift against the Houston Rockets on Monday night.

“The energy is just different,” said McDaniels. “I can’t even explain it, the energy is just different. Everybody is just positive. We’re just looking for the bigger picture, playoff run, and stuff like that. Guys are really locked in. It’s serious, but we have fun. It’s great to be a part of it, honestly.”

Philadelphia faced a rebuilding franchise in the Houston Rockets on Monday night. McDaniels was a big help off the bench for his team, as he drained three of his four shots from the field, scoring eight points. He also had five rebounds and three assists to add to the stat sheet.

He’s only played in two games for the Sixers so far, but Doc Rivers and the team are encouraged about what the newest addition brings to the table. And it seems McDaniels is already enjoying his time competing with the Sixers, who have a goal of making a title run at the end of the year.

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.