Jared McCain, a rookie with the 76ers, expresses his intention to follow Jayson Tatum’s “path” after becoming a star at Duke. McCain intends to emulate Tatum and a few other Duke Blue Devils.
The Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and the Philadelphia 76ers’ rookie Jared McCain represent two bitter rival teams who may have the most productive rivalry in NBA history. The Sixers rookie, though, has a lot to learn from his future rival.
Tatum and McCain actually came to the league via comparable paths. After just one season with the Duke Blue Devils, Tatum, just 19 years old, was selected in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft. He was selected by the skilled Celtics team, which was blessed with three past All-Stars in Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Al Horford.
McCain, who went 16th overall in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at the age of 20, was another youthful, one-and-done player for Duke. Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey are the three star players of the 76ers, who, like the 2017–18 Celtics, were all chosen for All-Star teams the previous season.
Tatum burst into the forefront in his first season. Before losing to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, he assisted the C’s in overcoming unfortunate injuries. Tatum defeated the 76ers in five games en route to his first berth in the Conference Finals. He scored a career-high 28 points in the series opener to become the first Celtics
