Thunder’s Chet Holmgren always knew Jared McCain was more than ‘Linsanity’ run

The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to look like the NBA’s most complete postseason machine. One of the biggest reasons behind their terrifying playoff depth has been the emergence of Jared McCain. Some initially brushed off McCain’s breakout as another short-lived “Linsanity”-style surge. However, Chet Holmgren never bought into that narrative. Speaking recently about McCain’s evolution, Holmgren made it clear that the young guard’s offensive versatility had been obvious long before this postseason run.

“I watched a little bit of his ‘Linsanity’ run last year before he unfortunately got hurt,” Holmgren said. “I knew he could do more than just shoot… He can pretty much get his shot off.”

Coming from one of the league’s elite defensive anchors, the praise carries significant weight.

“I watched a little bit of his Linsanity run last year before he unfortunately got hurt. I knew he could do more than just shoot… He can pretty much get his shot off."

Chet Holmgren shares his initial thoughts on Jared McCain

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McCain’s rise has also become one of the best redemption arcs of the 2026 postseason. After injuries interrupted much of his 2024-25 campaign, questions lingered about whether his rookie explosion had been simply an early-career flash.

Instead, the former first-round guard returned this season with improved handle creation and advanced shot-making. The “Linsanity” comparisons that once followed him now feel outdated as he continues proving capable of thriving within structured playoff basketball.

After arriving from Philadelphia in a midseason trade, he found another gear during the Western Conference Semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers. McCain buried Los Angeles with ruthless efficiency, scoring 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from deep in Game 1 before exploding for 18 points on another blistering 80 percent clip from three in Game 2. If this trajectory continues, Holmgren’s prediction may age perfectly.

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