Why did Tyrese Maxey get so emotional after Jared McCain was traded to the Thunder

The The Philadelphia 76ers’ decision to trade Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder carried more emotional weight in the locker room than a standard midseason transaction, especially for Tyrese McKay.

After Wednesday’s deal, Maxey explained the move hit a personal best as it marked the end of his first significant veteran-rookie relationship. Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer shared Maxey’s comments on BlueSki after speaking with him at Thursday’s shootaround.

“Hello from the Sixers, where we just talked to Tyrese Maxey about the Jared McCain trade. He said the team was on the bus when it broke down yesterday, and it was emotional for him because it was his first rookie-vet relationship.”

The The 76ers agreed to send McCain to Oklahoma City in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick. and three selections in the second round. The frame later expanded to a three-team deal involving the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets, according to ClutchPoints NBA Insider Brett Siegel.

“The Bulls get Dieng along with Collin Sexton, while Mike Conley and Kobe White go to Charlotte with three second-round picks,” Siegel reported. He also noted that “the Thunder are doing it by trading Dieng for Plumlee, waiving Plumlee and then completing the trade for Jared McCain.”

Greetings from the Sixers’ shootaround, where we just spoke with Tyrese Maxey about the Jared McCain trade. He said the team was on the bus when it broke down yesterday and it was emotional for him because it was his first rookie-vet relationship.

— Gina Mizell (@ginamizell.bski.social) 2026-02-05T18:09:12.380Z

McCain, 21, was selected 16th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft and made an immediate impact during his rookie season. He emerged as an early favorite for Rookie of the Year before tearing his UCL, an injury that abruptly ended his injury-riddled season for Philadelphia.

Jared McCain trades to Thunder for Tyrese Maxey, 76ers

Despite a promising start to his career, McCain struggled to replicate that level of production in his second season. He is averaging 6.6 points, two rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 38.5 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from three-point range in 37 games, including one start, while playing 16.8 minutes per contest.

That score marks a significant drop from his rookie numbers. Last season, McCain averaged 15.3 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game while shooting 46 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from beyond the arc. He appeared in 23 games with eight starts, logging 25.7 minutes per game as the 76ers endured a season defined by injuries throughout the roster.

For Maxey, the trade represented more than a personnel change or draft capital. As one of the team’s established leaders, he took McCain under his wing, making the move a reminder of the business realities that come with life in the NBA.

Philadelphia, now 29-21, resumes its season Thursday night with a road game against the Los Angeles Lakers (30-19) at 10 p.m. ET. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, is 40-12 and will look to bounce back from a 116-106 loss to the San Antonio Spurs when they host the Houston Rockets (31-18) on Saturday at 3:30 PM ET on ABC.