Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain turned a minor detail in a uniform photo shoot into a viral talking point after fans noticed he was “lifting” just 2.5-pound plates.
The image, released Wednesday during the unveiling of the team’s latest classic jerseys, shows the 21-year-old seated on a bench in an Allen Iverson–era uniform. Social-media users quickly zeroed in on the barely weighted bar, prompting one X user to ask, “Why is Jared McCain bench pressing 2.5-lb plates?”
The post spread rapidly, and McCain responded on his Instagram story the same day. First, he wrote “Working on it” accompanied by two sad emojis, then uploaded a light-hearted clip of himself curling an 8-pound dumbbell.
McCain’s playful exchange fit his online persona. The rookie guard has 4.4 million TikTok followers and frequently shares behind-the-scenes content. A locker-room video with teammate Kyle Lowry last season topped seven million views.
Before a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee ended his rookie year in December, McCain averaged 15.3 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds over 23 games and earned a spot in the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend.
Source: ESPN
