The Philadelphia 76ers may have a brewing Jared McCain problem

Jared McCain’s Summer League performance has been underwhelming. Known as a shooter coming out of Duke making 2.4 threes per contest on 41.4 percent efficiency, he has failed to replicate that production and efficiency this summer. Through eight contests, he averaged 23.5 minutes, 11.9 points, and 1.8 threes per game while converting 28.6 percent of his attempts from the field and 25.5 percent of his three-point tries.

Not the gaudiest of numbers but he saved his best performance for last. In the finale versus the Boston Celtics, McCain was composed and confident. He went three of seven from beyond the arc. He drilled his opening three off a dribble handoff, his second three off a step back move, and his final three was of the catch and shoot variety.

His effectiveness against the Celtics was not limited to shooting. He maintained good energy on defense and made smart decisions with the ball ending the first half with 15 points and 4 assists. McCain’s quality performance during the first half was enough to end his night as he didn’t get on the court during the second half.

This is the type of performance that 76ers’ fans have waited for. Overall, his performance during the Summer League has been subpar as the stats above suggest but how worrying should fans be?

Is Jared McCain’s Summer League struggle a cause of concern for the 76ers?

Summer League struggles are nothing new for rookies, but summer struggles are not indicative of regular season results. Take for instance, Brandin Podziemski of the Golden State Warriors. He was selected 19th overall by the Warriors during the 2023 NBA draft. Similar in stature, Podziemski made 2.5 threes per contest on 43.8 percent efficiency.

Despite his first-round status and shooting reputation, he struggled mightily during his first summer. He averaged 29.7 minutes,10.6 points, and 1.1 threes per game while shooting 32.5 percent from the field and 25 percent from beyond the arc. Sound familiar? Warriors' fans likely had concerns about their draft selection heading into the season.

Those concerns were swiftly replaced with optimism after his rookie year concluded. He wounded up starting 28 of his 74 games averaging 26.6 minutes a night while improving his shooting efficiency to 45.4 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three. Heading into the 2024 campaign, Podziemski is expected to serve as an integral part of the Warriors’ rotation. 

That expectation would have appeared as wishful thinking at this same time last year. How has Podziemski done during his second Summer League stint? One word, dominated. In three games, he averaged 18.5 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and a remarkable 50 percent from three. 

Would you believe me if I told you that a Hall of Famer who has influenced the past decade of the NBA struggled during his Summer League debut? Arguably the best shooter in league history, Stephen Curry, struggled to convert his shots during the summer. He was far better from three than he was from the field but overall shot 32.5 percent and 43.5 percent from three. 

By no means is McCain close to the level of Curry, but shooting struggles in the summer does not parlay into shooting struggles during the season. So before panic sets in, patience is warranted. 

Also, beware of buyer’s remorse when comparing McCain to players selected after him as they find success for their squads. It’s easy to envision other first round selections like Dalton Knecht, Tristan da Silva, and Jaylon Tyson in 76ers’ colors imagining what could have been as they fill up the box score with impressive efficiency. 

Should the 76ers press the panic button with McCain? Probably not.

Interpretations of Summer League results are truly specific to the eye of the beholder. If you search for players that had success during the summer that turned into perineal NBA All-Stars, you’ll find it. If you look for players that struggled during the summer to transform into a Hall of Famer, you’ll find that too. 

Pick your flavor, and you’ll find a player to satiate your desires. Obviously, we all want to see positive results. It makes everyone feel better about a situation, but true outcomes take time.

It would be great and reassuring to see McCain hit all his shots but that has not happened this summer. Thankfully, he finally provided a good preview in the 76ers’ finale. 

We have to trust and bet on his abilities, work ethic, and fundamental skills to develop into the best version of himself. That best version is a player that can regularly contribute for the 76ers, and it is best to be patient as his developmental track unfolds.