Throughout the offseason, Jared McCain has not hidden the fact that he loves being an OKC Thunder. From numerous friendly trash-talking sessions via TikTok to meetings, unofficial practices, and selfies with his teammates, McCain has truly embraced his new situation.
His latest loyalty test was a peculiar one, though McCain might've been the perfect choice for it. He was tasked with naming music comps for various NBA players, including teammate and perennial All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
He chose singer-songwriter Olivia Dean.
In fairness, he wanted to go with Drake, but he had already compared the hip-hop star to Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum. Dean, however, might be an even better comp for the Thunder leader.
Dean is known for her smooth, soulful songs that combine R&B and pop. Truth be told, her jazzy undertones may fit Gilgeous-Alexander's personality and playstyle better than Drake's body of work.
Thunder guard's unrequited compliment to SGA works on many levels
Throughout his career, Shai has been known for his smooth, yet sometimes herky-jerky style of basketball. Words like "slithery" and "shifty" are often used to describe his on-court theatrics.
His ball-handling and shot creation are beautiful to watch, albeit unpredictable at times, which makes him so tough to guard. Like smooth jazz, you never quite know where he is going next.
Dean's music is anything but formulaic. SGA plays unlike anybody else in the league. Both march to the beat of their own drum and have success to show for it.
Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off two straight MVP seasons, and Dean just secured some bling in her own right. In February, she won her first Grammy for Best New Artist.
While Drake's laundry list of accolades may have been a more fitting comparison in that aspect, combining success with style leads one to believe that McCain made the right call.
Of course, the comparison wasn't ever meant to be an exact science, but it furthers the notion that McCain was nothing short of a home run hit by general manager Sam Presti. At this point, fans have no doubt about his skill on the basketball court, but his infectious personality and obvious ability to add to team chemistry have only added to OKC's morale.
In a way, Presti added another family member to an already tight-knit team. With such close relationships already formed, making mid-season moves can be risky, but McCain is constantly proving to be an absolute steal.
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