Why Jared McCain is a Great Candidate for the ROTY?
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After all that Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren hype in the 2023-24 season, this year’s race is much more different and a lot quieter than expected, and it cannot be denied that the hype is starting to change a lot with the way this year’s Rookie of the Year Race is shaping up. But why is Jared McCain quite a reliable and promising case for the ROTY this time?
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Is McCain Even a Hyped ROTY Candidate?
Let’s be fair. No one expected to have the 16th overall pick to be a candidate for the Rookie of the Year this season, and while not all of the top picks have been performing well, it has been making room for the players selected in the lower depths of the lottery.
If you are not impressed, only two of the top 10 picks have been quite performing well and are even considered for the award. This has opened up the odds so far for the likes of Bub Carrington (Washington Wizards), Dalton Knecht (Los Angeles Lakers), Yves Missi (New Orleans Pelicans), Dillon Jones (Oklahoma CIty Thunder), and even second rounders such as Ajay Mitchell (OKC) and Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies).
McCain, however, is putting up some impressive performances of his own so far. He has been quite a performer that the Sixers have needed all along. So far, there have been a lot of fiery performances from the rook, and they have been really needing him to perform at an elite level now more than ever to keep their rugged season afloat.
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What Makes Jared McCain a Valuable Player for Philadelphia?
Well, McCain has been quite a perfect fit for the Sixers so far. He has been an impressive alternative with the likes of Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and even Joel Embiid shifting through injury management. So far, it has been quite a good look for McCain, and that makes him a valuable player to keep for the team
Considering how the Sixers are starting off dead last in the Eastern Conference in quite a long time, it can be said that the team is really starting to need more of McCain’s elite performances if they are going to survive this season with their main stars coming off injuries. Initially, the Sixers are hyped to be a championship contender to begin with, and now it seems that they are far from making it happen at this point in time.
Rookies are valuable additions to the team, and it is safe to say that McCain is showing his worth well for the team at this point, and this may well be the chance for him to show that he has what it takes to become the next big rising player in Philadelphia.
What Gives McCain a Strong ROTY Case?
So far, McCain has been building on a strong rookie run so far. Of course, there are other rookie candidates who are starting to find their respective grooves, but no one has managed to show that they are making a good stride for themselves at the same level that McCain has.
However, if you take a peek at the odds, you can see that Jared McCain has been really unexpected to begin with. That just means that we are going to be in for a rollercoaster ride on the ROTY race with the season closing in on the final month of 2024.
NBA Rookie of the Year Odds (Updated as of December 6, 2024)
| Rank | Player, Team | Best Odds to Win |
| 1 | Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers | -160 |
| 2 | Dalton Knecht, Los Angeles Lakers | +275 |
| 3 | Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs | +650 |
| 4 | Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks | +1600 |
| 5 | Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies | +2500 |
| 6 | Alexandre Sarr, Washington Wizards | +2500 |
| 7 | Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies | +2500 |
| 8 | Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans | +6000 |
| 9 | Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls | +6600 |
| 10 | Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers | +10000 |
Considering how the current odds for the ROTY race looks like, McCain has slowly made his way to the top. But according to the NBA’s recent KIA Rookie Ladder, you can spot McCain's consistency and value starting to be a massive factor, and that just shows how he is making a big groove in his games so far.
So what gives McCain a promising case for the Rookie of the Year Award?
Filling the Gaps for Philly
As said before, the Sixers are initially expected to be a playoff contender. And yet they have started out 2-10 in their first 12 games of the season – which is a huge far cry from the expectations that they had after signing Paul George in the free agency. McCain is slowly stepping up in his games so far, and he is even starting to play heavy minutes for the team with Maxey out with an injury, and that gives him plenty of chances to prove his worth in the league and deliver a huge proof to his case in the ROTY race as well.
Outperforming the Memphis Duo
The Memphis duo of Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells are making a lot of noise in the NBA right now. With the Grizzlies coming into the competitive sides of the league right now, it is expected that these two rooks can get their fair share of credit in their success, and this just shows that they are really making some good strides. Edey, the favorite to win the ROTY, is currently out with an ankle injury but is averaging 11.1 points and 6.9 rebounds on 61% shooting from the field, which just proves his big case.
On the other hand, Jaylen Wells is also shocking the league with his strong presence despite being a second-rounder.
The guard-forward is averaging 11.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on efficient 43.2% shooting from the field. Those are both decent stats, but you should not turn a blind eye on McCain – who is averaging 14.8 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per game on 47.4% shooting, including 40.3% from three – leading all rookies in scoring and in field goal percentage.
Making an Impact
So far, the Sixers aren’t actually winning well in the season, but it cannot be denied that McCain has been really important in the rotation for the team, even getting a lot of key minutes in the game for the team. There are still over 60 games left in the season for the Sixers to play, and McCain is definitely expected to come up with bigger strides in the long run. At this point, his elite performances are bearing fruit for him, but he will have to play at a bigger level once the big three of Maxey, George, and Embiid come to return at full form and finally help them come back to a bigger pace in the Eastern Conference.
Can McCain Win the ROTY?
It is not impossible for Jared McCain to finish with the Rookie of the Year award by the end of the season considering how well he is performing as of late, and one can say that he is really starting to spice up his games now more than ever – which will certainly play a huge role in his chances and odds of winning the said award. For now, he has to keep performing at a consistent level – and hopefully turn the odds around for Philly to win in their games as well.
Should you have any doubts on your betting strategies and picks, always keep in mind that you can make use of our Gamble AI for some betting tips and suggestions to help you come up with a fruitful betting experience.
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