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Jul 15, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Justin Minaya (24) controls the ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain (20) during the first half at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
LAS VEGAS -- Miles away from the bright lights and the glamour of the Las Vegas strip, long after most of his teammates had left the facility, Jared McCain is on the court with Rico Hines and a host of Sixers' coaches, running through yet another shooting drill for the 20-year-old guard.
The drill starts off rough for McCain, who misses the first six shots of the set. It doesn't get better from there, as the next shot, his seventh consecutive miss, doesn't even touch the rim. McCain, given the option of doing sprints or pushups as punishment anytime he throws up an airball, chooses the latter.
"I was too tired to run," McCain would later tell me when asked about his choices.
When McCain gets...
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