If you think the Philadelphia 76ers are stuck in middling territory after missing the playoffs in 2024-25, you may have overlooked something huge. Jared McCain wrapped up his abbreviated debut last season with above-average true shooting on high usage, a feat achieved by only eight players in NBA history, all of whom became All-Stars. That gives McCain at least a fighting chance to join elite company and transform this team sooner than anyone expects.
When you look at the numbers, McCain’s efficiency jumps off the page right away. As a 20-year-old, he posted a 58.9% true shooting percentage.
That places him in remarkable company with Luka Doncic, Zion Williamson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Jaren Jackson Jr., as the only others players 20 years old and younger to reach that mark. McCain also averaged 15.3 points, 2.6 assists, and shot an impressive 46 percent from the field and 38.3 percent behind the arc before a midseason meniscus tear ended his campaign.
These are obviously not numbers that are typical for a rookie. So why is McCain still being overlooked by many across the NBA community?
Part of the answer lies in Philadelphia’s current positioning. The team still revolves around Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. McCain’s youth works against him in a market and for a fanbase hungry for proven star power.
Jared McCain can be a true star
Here is where it gets interesting. True shooting efficiency is one of the best early indicators of star-level translation. Every player to post McCain-level efficiency as a high-usage rookie has gone on to All-Star status. Even with McCain playing only 23 games, those flashes earned national notice, including nods in rookie rankings and talk of Rookie of the Year contention.
McCain is not just efficient, he also understands spacing and gravity off the ball. With role players around him, he showed an ability to create space and open shots for others. That is exactly the kind of vision that takes rookies beyond raw numbers.
Yes, durability remains a question. Defensive lapses and physical maturity are still in development. But given what McCain showed before the injury, this is not a high-upside bet, it's a calculated expectation.
The 76ers are deeper than your average team building around a few stars. Add in VJ Edgecombe and the financial flexibility to keep McCain around, and the platform is set. Jared McCain is not just a potential trade chip or bench spark. He is a foundational star in the making.
So yes, the league has no idea what is coming. Philadelphia fans may not know it yet. But if Jared McCain continues on this trajectory, it will not be long before everyone does.