With over a million followers on Instagram, Jared McCain might be one of the most popular rookies in this year’s NBA draft class. But don’t let the trendy dance videos and the multi-colored nail paint fool you, because McCain has the potential to become an elite shooter in this league. With that expectation, the Sixers utilized their 16 pick tonight to draft the 20-year-old star from Duke. But even before Adam Silver announced his name, he revealed how Stephen Curry’s advice helped him end his early struggles and turn into the player he is today.

During a recent interview, McCain revealed that he once went to the famous Curry camp to learn from the legend himself. And seeking his guidance, McCain asked the GSW vet how he handles pressure and overcomes shooting slumps consistently. To that, the Warriors superstar told Jared his secret mantra, “All he said was ‘Trust is Work’. That’s been a good mantra for me to just live by.”

From that moment on, McCain started believing in his abilities more and the work he put in every day to get better. And that started translating into his performance on the court. In his lone season at Duke, McCain averaged 14.3 points as a freshman along with 5 rebounds, while shooting an amazing 41.4% from three. That’s probably because he worked on his game even during the season despite the emotional and physical toll college games take on an athlete. “Pushing through that and being able to workout throughout the season made me a lot better,” he added. With that level of dedication, McCain even drew comparisons to Steph’s brother Seth.

How can Jared McCain help the Sixers succeed?

Just like Stephen Curry, Jared McCain, 6’2” is also an undersized guard coming into the league. But he makes up for it with his insane shooting ability and willingness to do all the dirty work on the floor. Even at Duke, McCain didn’t let his size turn into a disadvantage and used his quickness and hustle to average over a steal each game. The Sixers could use that kind of defensive tenacity.

More importantly, McCain’s efficient shooting makes him a scoring threat from all areas of the floor and it’s hard to stop him when he catches fire. Last year, he made 87 three-pointers, the fourth most by a Duke Freshman. On top of that, he had a season-high 35-point game and two more 30+ point games, which was only the 2nd time a freshman has achieved that feat in the last fifty seasons. While the Sixers have Embiid and Maxey as their two primary scorers, they are still looking for another star to add at least 15-20 points on a nightly basis. And McCain could be that missing piece for them.

Moreover, he has the zeal to become a better off-the-ball player, just like Steph, and turn into an even bigger offensive threat. Taking inspiration from a legend like Curry will surely help the rookie in his NBA journey. And that could eventually lead to the Sixers getting closer to their Championship dream.

Before you go, do not forget to check out what Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato has to say about the alleged Shaq and Kobe Lakers beef. Keep checking this space for more such updates.