"He's a Gunner" - NBA fans react to 76ers rookie Jared McCain rocking Arsenal scarf during club's friendly vs. Liverpool
Ahead of his rookie season, Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain continues to garner off-court attention. The latest instance came when he supported Arsenal during its friendly matchup against Liverpool on Wednesday, sparking mixed NBA fan reactions.
Despite having yet to play an NBA game, McCain, the Sixers' No. 16 pick in this year's draft, is already a social media sensation. He boasts 3.6 million TikTok followers from making dance videos and participating in viral trends with his friends and teammates.
However, McCain's outgoing personality has led to considerable fan scrutiny. He recently faced more pushback, although this time, it was due to his soccer club allegiance.
On Wednesday, the Sixers' X/Twitter account posted McCain sporting a red Arsenal scarf during the club's 2-1 exhibition loss to Liverpool at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Many fans harshly critiqued McCain for his Arsenal fandom.
"I’m out on McCain. [I] was defending him until now," @henrytoohey33 said.
"Lost my respect," @bruhpillowz said.
"Delete this ASAP," @stinkadelphia said.
However, some appreciated the rookie's Arsenal attire.
"Nice scarf he's rocking!" @ManOfTheLibrary said.
"He’s a Gunner," @_slimreaper7 said.
"My favorite NBA team and football team, who would have thought," @RNaim18 said.
Jared McCain unfazed by fan criticism ahead of rookie season
While Jared McCain already has his fair share of critics, he is expected to face even more pressure playing for Philadelphia. Sixers fans are known for being very hard on their team's players when they fail to meet expectations. However, according to McCain, he is ready for the challenge.
Apart from his TikTok videos, McCain has a well-documented passion for fashion and beauty, including painting his nails, earning him multiple brand deals. Thus, many expect fans to use his hobbies as fuel to criticize him if he starts his NBA career slowly.
McCain touched on that concern earlier this offseason, highlighting how his freshman season at Duke University prepared him for playing for Philadelphia.
"At Duke, it’s a big platform in college. Obviously, that comes with a lot of hate and a lot of scrutiny wherever you go, but I think that’s prepared me for where I’m at, especially with Philly," McCain said. "So, I think I’m ready for it."
Jared McCain struggled offensively over eight games across the Salt Lake City and NBA 2K25 Summer Leagues, averaging 11.9 points, shooting 28.6% and 25.5% from 3.
However, he noted that he planned to "maintain [his] confidence no matter what" coming off his standout season at Duke. Over 36 college contests, McCain averaged 14.3 ppg, shooting 46.2% and 41.4% from deep.
Also Read: "The Caleb Williams of NBA" - NBA fans troll Jared McCain for claiming Jordan Clarkson inspired him to paint his nails