Former Duke basketball guard Jared McCain Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Former Duke Basketball Star Jared McCain Nabs Big-Time Honor

Originally posted on Duke Blue Devils on SI
By Matt Giles | Last updated Dec 3, 2024 6:53 PM ET

Jared McCain didn't hear his name at the 2024 NBA Draft until the Philadelphia 76ers selected him No. 16 overall. Less than two months into his debut pro campaign, though, the beloved Duke basketball sharpshooter has already soared to No. 1 on the Kia Rookie Ladder.

And on Tuesday afternoon, the season's first Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month distinction went to the 20-year-old California native for his surge in November combined with his first four performances of the season in late October.

Through 18 games with the 76ers (4-14), McCain has tallied at least 20 points seven times. He's now averaging 16.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in only 25.2 minutes per contest, shooting 44.8 percent from the field, 36.4 percent beyond the arc, and 90.6 percent at the charity stripe.

Every time that Duke Blue Devils On SI left Cameron Indoor Stadium following Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer's postgame pressers last season, Jared McCain was either the lone Blue Devil or one of a couple on Coach K Court getting up shots with his notably disciplined approach.

In other words, at least for those who watched him shine in Durham last season, McCain's early NBA production should come as no surprise. Even so, his instant success is extremely impressive.

The improvement by Jared since summer 2023 is so impressive + inspiring https://t.co/QVEcxGC7Fd
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) December 3, 2024

Meanwhile, further evidence of NBA Blue Devil excellence lies in the season's first Kia NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month honor belonging to another former Duke basketball one-and-done in defending NBA champion and eighth-year Boston Celtics centerpiece forward Jayson Tatum. He's averaging 28.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and a career-high 5.6 assists across the Celtics' 17-4 start.

This article first appeared on Duke Blue Devils on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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