New 76er Jalen McDaniels

We talk about when he found out about the trade, where he was that whole process, discuss first impressions of his new Sixers teammates, and a whole lot more. So here we go, Jaylen McDaniels, Welcome to Philadelphia and welcome to the podcast. Thank you all for having me. You know it was good to be here. We are happy to have you here. This is the first question, but I know we already asked in media, but I'm hoping maybe you can give us a little more background. Logistically,

I'm always very curious about how trades work. So we know you were on the road, maybe at practice or whatever, but can you sort of take us through, like step by step, what exactly happens when one gets traded and finds out. So pretty much, We're on a two game road trips, so like four days. Where did we go first? Like maybe we went somewhere first, and then we ended up in Boston to play Boston. And the trade deadline

is like the next day. So the day before I wake up and we have shoot around, which is the next day, and everything was cool, you know, like in the past, like my agent was telling me, like, your name is gonna be in trade talks or whatever, and I was like okay, so boom, now it's trade deadline day, mass shoot around, just chilling, like everything felt normal. I guess I was watching film. Yeah, everything was normal. I didn't getting know, like weird vibes or like if I'm

gonna get traded or anything like that. And I didn't even think I was because like the Hornets, we just never like really made any trade since I've been there. So I was like, all right, maybe I'm just gonna be here, so I have to shoot around, get on the bus. My agents like call me, so I'm like, oh, maybe he just wants I honestly didn't think I was gonna get traded, so I'm like all right, he's probably gonna talk about like we're talking having conversation about what

the team and future and stuff like that. So I'm all right, it's probably about that. So he's like, oh well, he's like I call him. I'm like, bro, what's up. He's like, uh, like, Bro, you're going to Philly. Like I'm like like wait, Like I was like so confused. I didn't even know how to answer them, like for real, like right now. He's like yeah, bro, like you're not playing tonight, like you're going to Philly. They want you there tonight or end up getting here the next morning.

I was like okay, Like it was just a lot going on, Like my teammates like they seen it on Twitter, so they're looking back at me and I'm on the phone and I'm like, I'm really going to Philly now Because everybody's looking at me, like Jay, you see this, I'm like, oh wow, like I'm really traded, like I'm on another team. So then after that, yeah, I got off the bus, said by yeah, then I had to

talk to a lot of people. The bus was on the move while you're on the bus was on the move, Like I'm on the way back to the hotel, so my agents like call me, but like I'm on the bus, so I'm like I can't really talk, Like I'm over here trying to like sinking down in my seat because I'm like trying to be low key. And your teammates are scrolling Twitter, Yeah, scrolling Twitter, and they're like what. They're like, they're saying my name. They're like jay Like Jayleen,

You're a getting traded. I'm like what. Then five seconds later agent tells me all right, Yeah, it's it's such an interesting disruption because for people that don't know, like being on the road, it's sort of like groundhog Day, Like you wake up in a different city every day, Like you just said, you don't even remember what you're in. But you do the same routine, right, You wake up breakfast, you go to shoot around, and you come back, you

take your nap, you do whatever. It's like the same thing every day, and so I feel like it must have been really interesting to wake up thinking you were gonna have a normal day and then your life just like pans like, yeah, I don't even think I went to eat breakfast, Like I didn't even go to the team. It was like kind of weird after that, Like it wasn't weird, but it's just like, can I still go to the get food? You know, then got kicked up the chat? Can you go get food? I mean, I

don't know, I didn't go. I was like maybe I got jump in here kicked out of the group chat pretty quick, not like I don't want to say it sounding bad, but yeah I did. That's how it works though, And then you got but then you got added to a new group chat, so like, keep keep, give us the rest of the thread of what happens next. Um pretty oh wow, that's so I get what happens. I'm chilling. Honestly, there was some funny stuff going on in the group chat,

and I responded, I'm responded like laughing. The next thing, you know, it just says you left the chat. I'm like, oh yeah, it feel like damn, I didn't remove myself. I just got removed like I was in mid conversation. But it's all good, brutal, So okay, wait, but then continue filling in the timeline though. So you're in the hotel, You're obviously not gonna get on the bus to go to the Hornets game. You're gonna make plans to come to Philly, and then at what point do you get

added to the Sixers group? Chat? Literally, so next morning I wake up, I think we got a game. I get a text like shoot around this time at the Camden. I'm like, what is that? Like the camp. I don't even know where that is. I never heard of that. So I got here and kJ he met me, and then like we did like physicals and yeah, talked to Doc, just met everyone, and then yeah, that was pretty much the transition. Yes, Jaylen, Welcome to the Sixers. Welcome to

the seventy Sixers Insiders podcast. From my seat over here, I'm sure we'll talk a little bit more about your younger brother, Jaden of the Minnesota Timberwolves. But when it comes to the reaction to the trade, what did your brother Jaden? What did he think about you joining the Sixers? He was just like, Bro, that's crazy. Like you we always talked about, like you want to be on a winning team like playoffs, like being able to win a

championship and stuff like that. So he was like, Bro, are you really over there like them guys, Like it's your time now, like to add your value to the game and stuff. Like that. So a lot of people are excited for me, just happy like that he finally got an opportunity like to be on a better team stuff like that. What stands out to you about this roster?

It's just vets, like real vets, Like dudes like I played two K with when I was a younger, Like literally like looked up to them like I'm with them like in the locker room. Like it's kind of crazy. So who did you play us? Like James? Okay, see when I left hand like dunks Joe like Tobias Pje. Well, it's interesting that you say that because Shake grew up in Oklahoma and played as James and t K. Like what what is that like to to sort of have

those first interactions? And I imagine from a confidence perspective, like at a certain point you have to like pull your own seat up at the table right and like be right there with him. What are those internal conversations like to figure out how to turn someone that you idolized into a peer. It's just like, honestly, for me, it's more like just gaining my respect like on the court, like uh, like I'm really I really I talk, but

I don't really talk a lot. So it's just like I'm not gonna like go up to get like I'm not trying to sound we were like trying to like create a lot of conversation. Like that's just like not me, I guess, but like on the back on the court, lit, I feel like that would give me, get me comfortable to get to that so like just I guess, gaining my respect on the court then talking to guys like they see how I can play, and just getting comfortable with each other that way instead of like it's like, oh,

just I don't know how it goes. Guys don't want to be talking like all the time. I know how it goes, you know. So it's also this part of the season too, like people are trying to get to the break and like I get it, and it's cool to want to earn your respect to sort of build a relationship that way, Like I haven't thought about it like that before. A good point about the All Star break though, that'll allow you to maybe ease the transition a bit more with some time off yeah coming up,

hopefully you can get some logistical things. Yeah, I don't know, So that's what I'm Yeah, not really a break, but kind of gotta take care of a lot of stuff coming into Philly. Now for context for people that are listening, we're recording this the morning after the first time you played in Philadelphia. What was it like to play in front of those fans, not for the first time, but

for the first time as your fans? Um When I was subbing in there like home debut, Like I never like never heard people cheer that loud for me, like ever, So it was kind of like crazy, I'm like okay, like or I'm one eight okay. So and it was sold out, like it's a big arena. Everyone's there every night. You never know what stars you're gonna see. Like it's just like a vibe here, like you're in Philly, like

you're on a big stage, I would say. And then on the court, it was cool to see your first bucket as a sixer came from Tyrese and he talks a lot. He's one of the fastest guys, not just on this team but in the league. He was talking about your speed and developing quicker chemistry with you. What's it been like to play with him? You know, I feel like me I can just play all guys you know Tyrese, he gets buckets like he does everything, plays d you know he's gonna play hard and a lot

of energy. So me just feeding off him, and I say, me and him being in actions together, you know we can compliment each other with our speed and just quickness. I guess you could say yeah. With the Hornets this season, you were averaging career highs in nearly all statistical categories. After a few seasons there where do you think that

you improved the most as a player. I always say it's just like all around, just my all around game, like being more comfortable out there offensively coming off screens, get into my spots, and like taking the shots that I know I can make that I worked on. So it's just like having that confidence from from work is so hard on these things. So not only were you averaging career has, you had a career high twenty six against the Celtics, which is pretty recent at this point.

Shot nine of fifteen, five for seven from three, made all three of your free throws. How did that game feel? It was? It was a great game. It's like I didn't even have no plays call for me or nothing like that. I was just out there playing and like, honestly, I was getting a lot of shots and I was just I was hitting my shots, honestly, and I'm capable

of I'm capable of doing that a lot. So the boss swings a lot here, so you know it's gonna be a lot of that, a lot of a lot of open shots for me, a lot of cuts, and there's a lot of ways from you to score. Yeah, you mentioned being able to score without having plays drawn up for you, and that's actually something that Doc shared with the general media after you guys met that that's

something that you're comfortable with. And obviously, when you play on a team that has two MVP caliber players, multiple All Stars, the veterans that you just mentioned, Doc sort of said like, yeah, you're not going to really have plays drawn up for you, but the fact that you're comfortable playing in that environment is something that really impressed him.

And then after you played for the first time in Brooklyn, his takeaway don't know if you heard this yet, but his takeaway was immediately he said, oh, Jalen's gonna be so helpful for him. What does it feel like to know that your new head coach only needed to see you play for a few minutes to understand that that you're going to be a helpful piece here. Um, you know, it feels good just see like Doc rivers like a goat,

like he really knows a game. So like just to get that praise, like yeah, it honestly, it just makes you want to just go harder. Like coach believes in me. I just got here, like he just he's seen a small sample size. So it's like with that confidence that he gives me, I just gotta I feel like that's only right that I'm bringing the energy every night, like

and on the defensive side, just bring that energy. A lot of people have asked how you've adjusted offensively or how you've adjusted to defense and like play calls and stuff like that, but I think like it's not necessarily going up to your teammates and directly asking them things. It's kind of just like once the ball goes up, you're just in it, right, And there's a lot of stuff that's similar between a lot of the teams in the league. Also, yeah, a lot of stuff is similar.

It's just like different terminology, honestly, like the words. So me getting that down defensively was easy. Honestly, but offensively, it's whole other stories. It's a lot of plays, a lot of yeah, a lot of variations, but it's like all the same stuff, just different words, like I'm gonna get it, so I'm gonna be good. But like it's

like learning to speak a new language. Literally, like now, it's like learning to speak a new language, but like you know it, but you don't because you don't You're familiar with the concept, but you don't know how to

articulates like words. It would be like words meaning something else. Well, it's interesting even watching, like as I sort of piece things together as someone that never played, I'll under I'll watch the action and then I'll hear what it's called, and then in my head I'll be like, Okay, that was called something else last year, and I can imagine

that that's the same thing for you. It's like they're using a certain piece of jargon to describe something that you know how to do, but you don't know that they correlate to each other. Yeah, but eventually, like you have to imagine that the more times you hear it this way and then do it this way, you'll be able to figure it out. We talked about the break coming up, you talked about being really excited to participate

on a playoff team. What do you anticipate about the stretch run and competing to try to be the last team standing. Um, I've never been to the playoffs, so honestly, I'm just anticipating what I hear. Like, the atmosphere is crazy. Every play matters like it's real out there, Like it's real physical, like it's like do or die. So I'm ready for this, seems everybody says it's so fun, like get the wings, like it means a lot more So if you love the energy last night, you're gonna love

the energy. Yeah, I know it's gonna be even like wow, so even more defense because this year there's been all these record scoring games and twenty point games and thirty point games. Everybody locks down, come come playoff time, right, So, three plus seasons into your NBA career, looking back when you got picked in twenty nineteen, number fifty two of all,

what was Draft night like? Man? Draft Night? Honestly, draft night like if I had the NBA work as a few teams said they're gonna take me at certain numbers stuff like that or whatever. So Draft night yeah, draft night was kind of weak. It wasn't weak, but it was just like I didn't know nothing, like I don't know what. Like I'm just like here just waiting watching everybody get picked. I don't even know when I'm gonna get picked. So teams said they were gonna pick me

to like kind of like pick somebody else. So I'm like, oh, damn, definitely not getting drafted now, like I don't have no idea. So and you started on a two way right, Nah, I don't even know like that, And honestly, I'm about to explain right now. So when I got drafted, like okay, so boom, I didn't really have a good summer league. So yeah, that was ruling ruined everyone. I didn't have a good summer league. So it's like they were kind of like, oh, we're offering him like straight G league

contract type of stuff like that. So like my agent, we wasn't really going for that. I know I could play in the NBA. We knew like my skill set. I just had like bad not really bad before us. I didn't really get the showcase like you know, so pretty much like I guess we made like a deal, Like I go to Charlotte work out, they see how I play against with the players stuff like that. During training camp, like they started to see that, like okay, he could he actually could play the game, Like he

actually is good. He got a game, you know, it's how to play. So from the summer to a training camp, I was just in Charlotte from like July to like from July to the season ending for real. So from July I was playing with them, just trying to make a name for myself out there. And then Mitch, Yeah, he put me through everything and then like he rewarded me, like he's uh by giving me a contractor sign, you know,

by being on the team fully. So yeah, that was interesting that you talked about not really having obviously had much of an opportunity to get to know your teammates. Yet with the story you just told mirrors a lot of your new teammates and the pick number two, so you look around here, Shake Milton was picked in the fifties,

Haul Reid was picked in the fifties. Apologies have I left anyone out, but it's a similar I mean, even though that's though like PJ had to work his way in Tyrese obviously didn't wasn't picked in the fifties, but he slipped. So like there's, um, there are a lot of guys on this team that know what it was like to have to really like claw their way into these lineups and into these opportunities. So hopefully you'll find

ways to connect with them. Yeah, in the weeks and months and we talk about growing up in Federal Way, Washington. What was that like? Federal Way, you know south of Seattle. There's like twenty twenty five minutes away. Uh, yes, Federaway was. I mean it was cool growing up. It really wasn't too much going on. I don't get the basketball teams. Yeah, highest brother, undefeated, state tramps, undefeated. Yeah. Well, first I went to the school called Todd Beamer. It was also

a Federway. It was like down the street. Them in Federway was like rivals. But I wasn't really playing at Todd Beamer, like it was some weird. So I transferred to Federway and then I started playing. Um my brother came along. We played for like a year together and then yeah twenty nine and oh one year, one state back to back, and then yeah, it was all my way to Sando stayed up. So I've sort of liked this threat of like you not really knowing your teammates

yet getting you know, who else George. George also like clawed his way through the G League as crazy as I've seen George in like twenty nineteen at P three, like working out and I'm like, who, Like I didn't know he who? Like, I'm not no, I don't even want to say that mean no, No No, It's okay. He'll think it's funny. I'm like, so we're doing yoga, like I didn't even know, like it was just all hoopers there,

but I didn't know like he hooped or nothing. Like just for people who don't know, P three is P three is like a performance like I guess supposed to be Like in Santa Barbara, we're in the off season, like guys from different teams. You remember seeing your now teammate George Niang, Yes, yes, twenty nineteen. I'm like like, I'm like, who, I didn't know who he bro was. I'm not gonna lie, I'm just like, yeah, So I'm

like twenty nineteen. After twenty nineteen, I get drafted, have a game in Utah one day, and I like he was George is like hitting like three, he had like three threes. I'm like, wait, that's dude from P three, Like no way, I had no idea he was like in the league like and he's playing like so, I'm like, damn, like this is crazy, Like I just didn't expect it. Like I'm just saying I didn't know that this happened. Yeah.

I told him like a couple of days ago. I'm like, bro, I'm like, you probably don't even remember, but I was at P three with you, and like he was like word, I was like yes, bro, Like we wasn't doing yoga together, like really, like I remember like vividly, like so it was crazy amazing from summer workouts to teammates. I hope you get to have more of those connections with your teammates to be go along. It's been so nice to

watch you these first couple of games. Thank you for sharing your story with us today, and we're excited for the future with ye too. Thank you all. Fed Shalen, Welcome to Philadelphia. It's great to have you. Thanks so much for joining us. Appreciate it though to be here