Matas Buzelis and AJ Johnson seem less comfortable and in rhythm than him on the dance steps. This video posted by Jared McCain, on his TikTok accountalong with the Bulls and Bucks rookies, has been viewed… nearly 4 million times.
While some rookies arrive in the NBA in relative anonymity on a public scale, the former Duke player arrives in Philadelphia with a real online community: already 3.6 million subscribers on the short video sharing application and more than a million on Instagram.
Popularized thanks to his dances, the 16th choice of the Draft now intends to involve his teammates! If I could ever get Tyrese Maxey or Paul George on a TikTok, that would be great, but I wouldn't force them to do it, under any circumstances. Hopefully I can get them on after a big win or something. “, announces rookie at Clutchpoints.
Working while having fun
The latter already has more followers on Instagram than Tyrese Maxey, while “PG”, who does not have a TikTok account, has more than 10 million “followers”.
The former Blue Devil has received some criticism online for his videos, with some viewers feeling that he doesn't take on-field activities seriously enough when he produces TikToks.
This phenomenon could be amplified in the Major League. On social media, you get a lot of hate, especially now in the NBA. If you have a bad game, they're going to throw it around. So when I dance, people don't appreciate it as much, especially because I'm in the NBA and they want the NBA to be a serious thing. “, the rookie explains.
He says he has difficulty understanding this kind of reaction. They want us to always be very serious, as if we couldn't have fun. “, continues the player who scored 13 points and 5 rebounds in the summer league.
” I'm going to show up and have fun. You can have fun off the court and still work hard and make it to the NBA. So I'm trying to change that idea that you always have to be serious… I'm always going to find a way to be myself. “, concludes Jared McCain likely to be quickly adopted by Sixers fans.