McCain attended Centennial High School in Corona, California, graduating in 2023.[1] As a junior, he was named the 2021–22 Gatorade Player of the Year for boys basketball in California after averaging 16.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. During this time, he appeared in three seasons of the YouTubedocuseries Believe, directed and filmed by Nick Ramos.[2] In his senior year, McCain was selected to play in the 2023 McDonald's All-American Boys Game.[3] He repeated as the 2022–23 Gatorade Player of the Year for boys basketball in California after averaging 17.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.[4]
McCain enrolled at Duke University in June 2023.[9] He made his college basketball debut on November 6, 2023, scoring 8 points in 15 minutes in a 92–54 win over Dartmouth.[10] On January 27, 2024, McCain scored 21 points and grabbed 5 rebounds during a 72–71 victory against Clemson.[11] He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Rookie of the Week on January 29.[12] McCain recorded a career-high 35 points on February 17, tying the Duke freshman record previously held by Zion Williamson, in a 76–67 win against Florida State.[13] For this performance, he received ACC Rookie of the Week honors again on February 19.[14] On March 24, he contributed 30 points and 5 rebounds in a 93–55 victory over James Madison.[15] In the Elite Eight round of the 2024 March Madness tournament on March 31, McCain scored 32 points in a 76–64 loss to NC State. He concluded his freshman season averaging 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.[16]
McCain was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers as the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NBA draft.[19] He signed a four-year contract with the team on July 4, 2024.[20]
McCain made his National Basketball Association (NBA) debut on October 23, 2024, in a 124–109 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.[21] On November 13, he recorded a career-high 34 points and 10 assists in a 114–106 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.[22] He was named the Eastern ConferenceRookie of the Month for November 2024, becoming the first player from the 76ers to receive the honor since Ben Simmons in March 2018.[23] On December 14, it was announced that McCain had suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee, which sidelined him indefinitely.[24] On January 10, 2025, it was officially reported that he would miss the remainder of the season.[25]
2025–26
On October 1, 2025, the 76ers announced that McCain had undergone surgery to repair a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of his right thumb. As a result, he was expected to miss at least one month of play.[26]
National team career
McCain represented the United States at the 2022 FIBA U18 Americas Championship held in Tijuana, Mexico.[27] He played in all six games during the tournament and contributed to the team’s undefeated 6–0 record, which earned them the gold medal. Throughout the competition, he averaged 11.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, while shooting 41.5 percent from the field.[28]
McCain gained recognition on social media platforms, particularly TikTok and YouTube, by posting basketball-related content, personal vlogs, and participating in trending dance challenges. His activity on these platforms throughout his years at Duke University and joining the Philadelphia 76ers contributed to his growth as an influencer.[29]
A distinctive aspect of McCain's personal expression is his habit of painting his fingernails, which has led to partnerships with brands such as Sally Hansen. McCain continues to use his platform to promote self-expression and authenticity both on and off the court.
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