76ers holding awkward tribute for player they unceremoniously jettisoned
It's nice the 76ers are doing anything for Jared McCain, but it would've been better if they just kept him around.
In a vacuum, an NBA team honoring a former player in their first game back in their old arena is nothing out of the ordinary. It's a nice gesture, often marked by a formulaic highlight video of their best moments with their ex-team. There's nothing to read too much into what is, at a base level, a standard practice across the league.
Still, it feels a little awkward that the Philadelphia 76ers have apparently planned a tribute to former first-round guard Jared McCain. The 76ers traded McCain at this year's NBA trade deadline for what will likely amount to scraps in the form of a 2026 first-round draft pick and three second-round picks. This, after McCain had endured some frustrating injuries that limited the start of his professional career.
It's almost like the 76ers gave up on him without a second thought. McCain, meanwhile, has thrived with his new team, the reigning league champion Oklahoma City Thunder , averaging over 12 points per game on 50-44-86 shooting splits in just under 20 minutes a night. So, how could this planned tribute not be awkward?
According to Jason Dumas of Action News on 6abc in Philadelphia, the tribute is scheduled to take place when McCain's Thunder visit the 76ers on Monday night. Oh. Huh.