Jalen McDaniels: Playing With Harden, Embiid a ‘Dream Come True’

As he prepared to join the Sixers, Jalen McDaniels had some high praise for his new All-Star teammates.

Former Charlotte Hornets draft pick Jalen McDaniels is looking forward to possibly playing in the postseason for the first time in his career this year. After playing for the Hornets since the 2019-2020 NBA season, McDaniels was traded to the Sixers late last week.

Considering Philadelphia currently places third in the Eastern Conference, they are well on their way to clinching a spot in the playoffs once again. While McDaniels was shocked to hear he was headed to Philly after a practice session in Charlotte last Thursday, he surely wasn’t lacking excitement.

“Definitely exciting [to join] t a team that's been far in the past and planning on going there this year,” said McDaniels last week. “Just them coming after me and wanting me to be here, it says a lot. Like, I could bring to the team to help them get to that point.”

McDaniels played alongside some talented players in Charlotte, but nothing quite like the two stars the Sixers currently employ. With a six-time All-Star in the center, Joel Embiid, and a ten-time All-Star guard James Harden, McDaniels looks forward to continuing to share the court with those two at times.

“It’s just like a dream come true,” McDaniels said, thinking about playing with Harden and Embiid. “Just want to be in the playoffs around great players and franchise players. It’s just like, I’m here now, and I just got to make the most of it. I guess you could say help them, help me, I guess.”

So far, McDaniels has suited up for the Sixers twice. Although he didn’t make his debut in last Friday’s outing against the New York Knicks, he took the court the following night to face the Brooklyn Nets. He checked in for 16 minutes, producing five points on 2-4 shooting from the field.

During Saturday’s game, McDaniels had the opportunity to share the court with James Harden and Joel Embiid for the first time. With Harden, McDaniels shared the court with him for nine possessions. He shared the court with Embiid for 15 possessions. While it’s just a small sample size, McDaniels will have plenty of time to grow in the new system as the Sixers prepare for their eventual playoff run.

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