Continued Defensive Improvement Is Priority For OKC Thunder's Jared McCain

Oklahoma City's trade deadline acquisition improved defensively last season, but that will need to continue in 2026.

May 26, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain (3) reacts after a basket during the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in game five of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Jared McCain was an instant-impact scorer off the bench for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half of the 2025-26 season, joining the squad from the Philadelphia 76ers at the trade deadline. McCain's minutes quickly rose throughout the regular season as OKC battled injuries, but his performances made his place stick.

The Duke product managed to score 20-plus points twice in his playoff debut, getting selected in the Thunder's starting lineup in the Western Conference Finals in the fifth and sixth games as well. The guard's quick-twitch offensive game was what the Thunder needed when they decided to trade draft capital for him, but that's not the only aspect that McCain utilized to get him in a favorable rotation spot.

In order to get consistent minutes in head coach Mark Daigneault's rotation, you need to be a capable player on the defensive end, bringing full effort on every possession. McCain immediately took a defensive leap when he arrived on the defensive-leaning Thunder squad, but continued improvement on that end could cause him to rise even higher in the team's rotational hierarchy.

Through 30 games and two starts, McCain averaged 10.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 39.1% from 3-point range on 4.6 attempts per game on the offensive end. He continued to surprise in the postseason, averaging 10 points and 1.9 rebounds per game through 15 appearances, converting 37.1% of his perimeter looks.

On defense, McCain used his bulky build and lower-body strength to defend whoever his matchup was, all while not being a mismatch for a switch play with a star. Despite being a 6-foot-3 guard in a league that continues to size up, the third-year player holds his own in point-of-attack situations.

Despite being impactful when his shot finds the net, the fan-favorite can get an extended run if he can impact the game without his shot making.

"I think the main thing [McCain is working on] is just being able to completely not just be just a scorer, to be on the court," McCain said in his end-of-season media availability. "Like if my shots aren't going in, still having value on the court."

With his offensive skill set, McCain does not have to be a world beater defensively, but continued improvement can help him leap from a solid microwave bench scorer to one of the better bench guards in the NBA. After the first fully healthy offseason in his professional career, McCain has plenty to show this fall.