Duke basketball fans got to watch freshman sensation [autotag]Jared McCain[/autotag] grow during his freshman season in 2023-24, and now, they got to watch McCain get drafted into the NBA.
The Philadelphia 76ers picked McCain with the 16th pick in the 2024 NBA draft on Wednesday night. McCain, in attendance at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn with his family, heard his name called and got to walk across the big stage in person, and ESPN kept a camera on him for the entire process.
A visibly emotional McCain embraced his family one-by-one, and he even dapped up former teammate [autotag]Kyle Filipowski[/autotag] and Duke head coach Jon Scheyer for quick embraces on his way to the stage.
Filipowski said something to McCain, drawing a laugh out of the newest member of the 76ers before Scheyer also shared a few words with his former star.
Fans in Philadelphia and around the league seemed excited about the pick, too. Check out the best reactions on social media here.
The moment Jared McCain heard his name called 😈👏@DukeMBB | @sixers pic.twitter.com/yajXfDtkTy
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) June 27, 2024
McCain gets to play alongside former MVP Joel Embiid and last season’s Most Improved Player, Tyrese Maxey, in the City of Brotherly Love.