Tyrese Maxey’s face said everything when Jared McCain hit back-to-back threes against the Sixers

It was a scheduled loss. Nobody expected the shorthanded Sixers to beat OKC. That was never the story Monday night. The story was Jared McCain coming back to South Philly for the first time since Daryl Morey shipped him out at the deadline and told this fanbase he was selling high.

Scheduled Loss: Sixers fall to OKC 123-103 in Jared McCain’s return to Philly

Obviously, anyone with half of a brain knew the Sixers were not selling high. The front office was ducking the luxury tax and lying about it with a straight face.

Joel Embiid came out before the deadline and explicitly said he did not want the organization to duck the tax. Morey ducked the tax anyway, moved Jared McCain, and called it a business decision dressed up as asset management.

McCain checked in with 5:56 left in the first quarter. The building gave him a warm reception. He hit a corner three on his first shot. On OKC’s next possession he buried another one from the top of the key and celebrated like he had been counting down to this moment for two months. Because he probably was.

Tyrese Maxey was sitting on the bench in street clothes watching all of it. His face told you everything you needed to know.

Tyrese Maxey was SICK watching Jared McCain last night

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Welcome to hell, Sixers fans

JARED MACCAIN HITS BACK TO BACK 3PM IN HIS RETURN TO PHILLY —

Tyrese Maxey’s reaction says it all. 🤣🔥

pic.twitter.com/l5Pte4F8BM

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 23, 2026

Jared McCain finished with 13 points, two assists, and shot 5-for-11 from the field including 3-for-7 from three. After the game he went around to pretty much everyone. Fans. Staff. Former teammates. Media.

He was all over that building expressing genuine love and gratitude for Philadelphia and the people in it. The reception he got back told you exactly how much he was loved and exactly how little this front office understood what they were giving away.

The reaction from the players, the coaches, and the fanbase last night was not about one basketball game. It was about an organization that keeps making decisions that have nothing to do with winning and then asking everyone to just trust the process.

Again.

Jared McCain: Loved by Everyone, Traded to Duck the Tax

Jared McCain all love with the Sixers after his return to Philly pic.twitter.com/laZqUuCIj6

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) March 24, 2026

Thanks Daryl Morey!!

Jared McCain 13 PTS, 1 REB, 2 AST, 5/11 FG, 3/7 3FG, 0 FTS, 0 TOS, 59.1% TS vs 76ers pic.twitter.com/y6Rrnf02zk https://t.co/14SVHqc2Aa

— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) March 24, 2026

Really unfortunate is the kindest way to put it.

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