{
  "id": 9629869,
  "title": "Thunder news: Sam Presti ready to discover Jared McCain's star status amid OKC 'constellation'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/thunder-news-sam-presti-ready-to-discover-jared-mccains-star-status",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-24T21:05:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/thunder-news-sam-presti-ready-210511746.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti is set to evaluate Jared McCain's star potential as the team prepares for the 2026-27 season. After trading McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers, Presti believes the 2026-27 Thunder will outperform their championship squad from the previous year, with McCain playing a crucial role in that forecast.\n\nPresti praised McCain's emotional intelligence and self-awareness, stating that those qualities make him a rare gem among high performers. He added that McCain's rare combination of mental fortitude and on-court skills sets him apart from other players. While McCain's ability to consistently hit threes is well-known, Presti expects fans to soon appreciate the vast array of skills McCain brings to the table.\n\nDuring training camp, Presti expects McCain to prove that his 3-point shooting is just one facet of his game. He anticipates that McCain will showcase his potential to contribute in various ways, ultimately becoming a more balanced player than he was during his time with the Sixers. Presti expects McCain, who plays alongside Thunder star Jalen Williams, to benefit from the \"force multiplier\" effect on the team, enhancing the intensity throughout the entire roster.",
  "summary": "Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti had eyes for Jared McCain long before his mid-season trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. Ahead of the upcoming season, Presti predicts the 2026-27 Thunder will be better than its championship squad in 2025. And McCain is a significant part of his forecast for his team, which fell one victory short of returning to […] The post Thunder news: Sam Presti ready to…",
  "key_points": [
    "Sam Presti to assess Jared McCain's star potential with OKC Thunder.",
    "McCain's emotional intelligence and self-awareness make him a rare gem.",
    "Presti expects McCain to become a more balanced player than in Sixers stint."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}