Thunder's Jalen Williams praises Jared McCain's seamless fit with team

Beyond the TikToks, Jalen Williams speaks up on how McCain's presence has sparked an offensive lift for the Thunder.

Feb. 11, 2026 at 1:47pm

In just two games with the Oklahoma City Thunder, newcomer Jared McCain has already made an impact, with his perimeter precision and burst shifting defensive attention and creating more open looks for his teammates. Jalen Williams praised McCain's ability to quickly integrate into the team's cohesive culture, noting that the young player has "fit right in" and that the Thunder's team is "very easy to get along with." The numbers back up the visual impact, as the Thunder have shot 40.5% from deep over the past two games, with McCain taking only five of those shots but his quickness forcing defenders to react and rotate, opening up cleaner looks for others.

Why it matters

The Thunder are the reigning champions and are looking to fine-tune the margins as they defend their title. McCain's ability to seamlessly fit into the team's chemistry and provide an offensive spark off the bench could prove valuable as the season unfolds, giving the already versatile Thunder roster another weapon to lean on.

The details

In just two games with the Thunder, Jared McCain has scored 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting. While the box score only tells part of the story, McCain's gravity has started to bend coverages, leading to more open looks for his teammates. Isaiah Joe has thrived since McCain entered the rotation, averaging 20 points per game and shooting 50% from three-point range over the last two games. The Thunder have also shot 40.5% from deep on 69 total attempts over the past two games, with six players finishing with at least two assists and four knocking down multiple three-pointers.

  • McCain has logged limited minutes in his first two appearances with the Thunder.

The players

Jalen Williams

A player for the Oklahoma City Thunder who praised McCain's seamless integration into the team's cohesive culture.

Jared McCain

A new addition to the Oklahoma City Thunder roster who has already made an impact with his perimeter precision and burst, shifting defensive attention and creating more open looks for his teammates.

Isaiah Joe

A Thunder player who has thrived since McCain entered the rotation, averaging 20 points per game and shooting 50% from three-point range over the last two games.

Sam Presti

The general manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who targeted McCain to provide perimeter scoring support for the team.

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What they’re saying

“He fits right in. Our team is very easy to fit.. especially if you're young, our team is really easy to get along with. It's just one of our super powers.”

— Jalen Williams, Player

The takeaway

McCain's ability to quickly integrate into the Thunder's cohesive team culture and provide an offensive spark off the bench could prove valuable as the team defends its championship title. The early returns suggest he is a seamless fit, with his presence already creating more open looks for his teammates and contributing to the team's efficient shooting performances.