The 2024 version of [autotag]Jared McCain[/autotag] felt overwhelmed by the moment on Wednesday night, with Duke fans watching the freshman star embrace his family and choke back emotion as he walked across the stage and became a member of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Back in 2022, however, a younger version of the California native had no doubts about him reaching that point.
The NBA released a short video on Saturday of McCain, still wearing a Philadelphia hat fresh off the draft stage, looking back at a two-year-old direct message he sent to the league’s social media account.
The message? McCain simply wrote, “I will be in the NBA.”
“Big believer in manifesting,” McCain said on draft night. “It was something I did because I felt like it was going to happen and now I’m here.”
McCain pointed out that so many basketball players don’t reach the highest level and encouraged fans to write down their goals to help visualize their success.
“I called it,” he summed up.
CALLED HIS SHOT 🙌
In 2022, we got a message from Jared McCain… he’s now a member of the @sixers! pic.twitter.com/zMt8yXhZ5j
— NBA (@NBA) June 29, 2024
McCain, who will wear the number 20 for the Sixers, now gets to live out his NBA dreams alongside stars like Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in the City of Brotherly Love.