With the 16th pick in the 2024 draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Duke point guard, Jared McCain. Life is full of irony, and sports are no different. McCain will now begin his NBA career in the City of Brotherly Love, and it was the love for his brother that propelled him to being a first-round lottery pick.

The Come Up

Sibling rivalries are not uncommon in families, and the McCain family was no exception. From a young age, older brother Jayce can remember challenging his little brother on the hardwood. Although Jayce had a few years on Jared, he never backed down from the challenge. However, he wouldn’t fully embrace his love for the game until around 8th grade.

While Jared was finding himself on the court, Jayce was struggling with unexplained health issues while playing high school basketball. These issues caused him to miss half of his junior year basketball season and limited his offers at the next level.

Even with health concerns, he was still offered a scholarship to play at Cal State San Marcos. As a freshman, his health issues would return. Doctors discovered that McCain was suffering from a pulmonary embolism that forced him to miss his freshman season.

Jayce would return to the court the next season and play in 84 games for the Cougars over the next three seasons, averaging 11 points per game. By the end of his college career, he knew he wasn’t going to play at the next level, so he set one last goal: to help his brother reach the NBA.

The Blue Devils

By the time older brother Jayce was ready to step away from playing the game, Jared was cementing himself as one of the best high school players in the country. As a senior at Centennial High School, he was ranked as the 14th best player in the US and was named the Gatorade California Player of the Year after both his junior and senior seasons.

After graduating, he committed to Duke. Once again, his brother was right by his side, making sure he was ready to play at an elite level. Check out their insane workouts below:

Once Jared McCain committed to Duke, Jayce applied and was accepted to graduate school, where he worked with the team as a graduate assistant. At Duke, Jared continued to thrive, making the Freshman All-American team and averaging 14 points in his sole season as a Blue Devil.

Playing for Something Bigger

After Jared was drafted by the 76ers, the brothers were interviewed and asked what this moment meant to them. Check out the heartwarming video below:

The McCain brothers show us that amazing things can happen when we commit ourselves to goals bigger than ourselves.

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