Jared McCain reveals how SGA’s off-ball move can help Thunder
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OKLAHOMA CITY — When Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain asked how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trains during the offseason, he was invited to join him in Toronto over the summer. The third-year guard didn’t hesitate, taking the offer and spending a week in Toronto, Canada, with the two-time MVP. McCain’s entering the Thunder’s 2026-27 season inspired.
In his first playoff appearance, McCain and the Thunder started 8-0, sweeping the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers in the first two rounds before facing a grueling best-of-7 Western Conference Finals series against the San Antonio Spurs. After the defending champions’ quest to return to the Finals fell short in Game 7, McCain, whose fit with the Thunder was like a glove in Oklahoma City, was determined to come back even better.
So why not work with the team’s leading man, Gilgeous-Alexander, who welcomed McCain into his inner circle with open arms?
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“For me, it was seeing how he was just in the offseason in general — off-the-court kind of stuff,” McCain said. “He really keeps it simple. I really admire that and how much of a family man he is. I worked with his strength coach out there, being able to see just that on-court/off-the-court, what time you’re waking up; and being able to work out with him was really cool for me. I asked him what he does during the offseason. He was like, “Just come out.”
“So, we planned it and just said, “Come out for a week.” I took all my homies out there. It was really cool just to see him on the court/off the court with his family.”
During Jared McCain’s first training camp with the Thunder, he got a firsthand look at how the philosophies Shai Gilgeous-Alexander preached over the summer matched the rest of the team from top to bottom.
“The mindset he comes in with is pretty much the whole building’s mindset in that being able to learn and embrace the culture of being on the Thunder. He does such a good job of that, being that leader for us, and someone to look to for how to act,” McCain said. “A lot of our media training was a lot of his stuff because he knows how to treat the media. We all know how to treat everybody in the building, and I think that comes to the court. All that good energy you put out off the court comes back to you.”
One of the many objectives throughout Thunder training camp has been working Gilgeous-Alexander off the ball to maximize his offense this upcoming season. Oklahoma City put it to action in Shai’s preseason debut. Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a flawless performance: 17 points on 5-of-5 shooting, including 3-for-3 from deep and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
He also finished with five assists, three rebounds, one block, and zero turnovers in 18 minutes. For Jared McCain, taking the ball out of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s hands is best for the Thunder. With capable facilitators throughout the roster, Oklahoma City should have no issue adjusting as the season goes on.
“He’s always guarded by the best player. So when he has to take the ball up, he’s getting tired,” McCain said. “He’s playing a lot of minutes. So having someone relieve that pressure off of him bringing the ball up allows him to use that quickness and use the stamina he has to make the moves stronger, whatever it is, and get to our spots and get to our play quicker for him in the halfcourt.
“A lot of that is his conditioning as well, and he does an amazing job of that, but being able to do it throughout the game, it wears on you, and to bring the ball up against their best defender. It’s really good to have someone to relieve the pressure of bringing the ball up.”
After two deep playoff runs, including three Game 7s, and a heartbreaking end to the 2025-26 season, the two-time MVP believes he’s better than ever. And with a healthy roster, including All-Star Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, the Thunder have a handful of facilitators to ease the process for Gilgeous-Alexander.
In the backcourt alone, Thunder guards Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, and McCain, who’s continued to improve facets of his game outside his efficient 3-point touch, will suffice. Not to mention Williams’ return from an injury-riddled season. This tweak in Gilgeous-Alexander’s approach could ultimately lead him to make NBA history once again, joining Hall of Fame centers and forward Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird as only the fourth player to win three consecutive MVP awards.
Related: Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander puts Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama on notice