Jared McCain closed out his first season in Oklahoma City averaging 8.3 points in 17.3 minutes across 67 games, after arriving from Philadelphia during the year. He is already seeing more run this fall, with his minutes up 11 a night over his last three outings and a 20-point night against the Pacers on October 13.
A Shooter First, A Scorer Second
McCain settled into a reserve guard job last season, contributing 8.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists a game. The efficiency underneath those totals stands out more than the volume: a 55.1 percent true shooting mark on 19.8 percent usage, built on 42.5 percent shooting from the field, 38.5 percent from three on 3.8 tries a night, and 86.4 percent from the line. His offensive rating of 113.5 against a defensive rating of 108.9 left him a positive net mark off the bench, a reserve who does not need many shots to be useful. At 22, in his second season wearing No. 3, he profiles as a change-of-pace scorer rather than a playmaker: his assist rate ran to 11.1 percent and his rebound rate to 5.6 percent, both in line with a shooting specialist in a reserve role.
Minutes Are Already Climbing
Preseason has given an early look at a bigger job. McCain is playing 11 more minutes a night over his last three outings than his season pace called for, and he reached 20 in the October 13 decision against the Pacers. Oklahoma City also ruled rookie guard Otega Oweh out for the season this week with a torn right Achilles, thinning the backcourt depth around him. That bump arrives five days before Oklahoma City opens the regular season at San Antonio on October 20, the window in which his role will either expand or reset.
Contract And Health Line Up
McCain is making $4.4 million this season on a deal that rises to $6.8 million in 2027-28, and he is not on the injury report ahead of tonight's game at Houston. At 22 and in his second season, the shooting is already proven. What he needs now is for Oklahoma City to trust him with enough minutes to turn that efficiency into a real role, not just a reserve's line.
How many minutes is Jared McCain playing for the Thunder?
He averaged 17.3 minutes a night across 67 games last season, and his preseason workload has climbed well above that pace.
What is Jared McCain's contract with Oklahoma City?
He is set to make $4.4 million in 2026-27, with the deal rising to $6.8 million in 2027-28.
More from The Bricktown Brief
all Thunder news →
Week ahead · Thu, Oct 15The Week Ahead: One Preseason Finale, Then a Season That Counts
Morning · Thu, Oct 15Oweh's Rookie Year Ends Before the Opener Even Tips
Player focus · Fri, Oct 9Alex Caruso's Minutes Spike Signals His Real Value Beyond the Box Score
Player focus · Tue, Oct 6Jaylin Williams: The Shooting Leap Oklahoma City Needs to Hold
Player focus · Thu, Oct 1Hartenstein's Efficiency Case for a Bigger Workload
Player focus · Mon, Sep 28Player Focus: Ajay Mitchell Chases a Bigger Role in a Crowded Backcourt