SGA Hypes Jared McCain After Joining James Harden in Thunder History and Highlight over Wemby in Win

The Jared McCain trade looks better with each passing day, as the 22-year-old now sits alongside James Harden in Oklahoma City Thunder history for his performance in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Friday.

McCain's 24 points helped the Thunder to a 123-108 win over the San Antonio Spurs, prompting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to praise him for oozing "confidence" after the win.

Thunder-Spurs Highlights

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Per NBA research, McCain and Harden are the only players in Thunder history to score at least 20 points off the bench in a playoff game before turning 23 years old.

Speaking after the game, McCain told NBC's Zora Stephenson that his motivation and confidence come from wanting to "prove the people who believe in me right."

Speaking to reporters after the game, McCain shouted out Kobe Bryant as the earliest influence on his style of play and mentality when he started watching basketball in 2011.

Asked about winning a road playoff game , McCain praised the "maturity" of the Thunder team, doing what he can to fit in and "executing the details in this loud environment."

Making the win even more impressive for the Thunder is they were down 15-0 to star the game, but McCain explained the mood on the Oklahoma City bench didn't change.

"Be calm, be poised in that situation and give each other confidence, give each other energy and know that we're going to throw another punch," he said. "We're going to come back."

McCain scored 16 of his 24 points in the second half to help the Thunder pull away.

Harden actually scored at least 20 points off the bench in the playoffs eight times before his 23rd birthday with the Thunder, so McCain has something to aim for as this postseason run continues.

Even if this ends up being the best game for McCain in this year's playoffs, it couldn't have come at a better time for the Thunder. Jalen Williams was unable to play due to a hamstring injury, so things seemed set up for the Spurs to get a win in the first game of the series in San Antonio.

Instead, McCain was part of a relentless offensive attack from Oklahoma City's bench. The Thunder reserves scored 76 of the team's 123 points, with McCain, Jaylin Williams and Alex Caruso also finishing with at least 15 points.

When the Thunder acquired McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers prior to the trade deadline, then-Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey explained it by saying he thought they were "selling high" on the former Duke star.

Friday's performance by McCain suggests Morey and the Sixers may have been underestimating what he is capable of doing, particularly on a big stage in the playoffs.