Chet Holmgren reacts to Jared McCain's OKC debut

OKLAHOMA CITY — All-Star forward Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder welcome Jared McCain in his debut at the Pike Center on Saturday. After head coach Mark Daigneault discussed McCain’s debut with the ThunderHolmgren followed suit during his postgame media availability.

Holmgren was impressed with the sophomore guard. McCain, coming from a player who didn’t spend much time with the Thunder before facing the Houston Rockets in a matinee at the Pike Center, did not disappoint on Saturday.

“I liked what I saw from him tonight. I thought he played a really good game,” Holmgren. “You know, it’s really hard. We’re not afforded enough practice time in this league already. To show up and be like hey, go out there with a new jersey, I think he embraced that. He wasn’t afraid to make a mistake and I don’t think he made one. He was in the right spots.”

“He was aggressive. He made the right play when the defense took him away. I’m looking forward to getting him out more, building some more chemistry with him and everybody else, and continuing to breathe life into what he does well.”

Chet Holmgren on Jared McCain’s Thunder debut: “I like what I’m seeing from him tonight — he had a really good game…
He wasn’t afraid to make mistakes and I don’t think he made any… I can’t wait to get him out more, build more chemistry with him” pic.twitter.com/5LVKSGRCs0b
— Joshua Pavon (@joe_svai) February 7, 2026

Mark Daigneault shared a similar view with Thunder All-Star forward Chet Holmgren about McCain, who was thrown into the Thunder’s matchup and often forced to rely on his instincts and what little he knew about Daigneault. offensive approach.

“He’s been good. He hasn’t been here more than 48 hours. So that’s a really tough spot, but I thought he did a really good job of just fitting into the team, fitting into the game,” Daigneault said. “He was confident and aggressive, but not inappropriately so. He looked like he belonged there in terms of the way we play. So he did a good job in obviously challenging circumstances.”

Mark Daigneault on Jared McCain’s Thunder debut: “He hasn’t been here in over 48 hours. So it’s a really tough spot…
He was confident and aggressive, but not unreasonably so. He looked like he belonged there in terms of the way we play.” pic.twitter.com/F74PIVfegR
— Joshua Pavon (@joe_svai) February 7, 2026

The Thunder suffered their second straight loss without All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In a 112-106 loss to the Rockets, Cason Wallace led the Thunder’s offense with 23 points on 10-for-16 shooting. Isaiah Joe scored 21 points, including three three-pointers, and McCain added five points, three rebounds and one assist in 14 minutes.

Jared McCain talks about his Thunder debut

Thunder guard Jared McCain (3) gestures after scoring against the Houston Rockets during the second half at the Pike Center — Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Thunder Keeper Jared McCain felt the love of the people his new fan base when he first logged into the game. After head coach Mark Daigneault called out the Thunder’s late-game execution, McCain discussed the moment he first checked into the game during the first half.

McCain felt a hug from Thunder fans at Paicom Center, according to Daniel Bell of The Franchise 107.7.

“It was amazing. I have to watch the video, but I felt the love right away when I got into the game,” McCain said. “Playing with this group is going to make me better. So I’m excited.”

“It was amazing… I felt the love as soon as I got into the game… nothing like it”
– Jared McCain on his first action as a member of the Thunder & OKC pic.twitter.com/kUIiUKSG2jl
— Daniel Bell© (@BasketballGuruD) February 8, 2026

Thunder fans gave McCain a standing ovation in the Paicom Center.