Smiling with his picture-perfect teeth and gold-glistening nails, Jared McCain — per usual — was in the best mood at the 2026-27 NBA Media Day. Serving as the unofficial first day of school, he caught up with the local media for the first time since the summer started and posed for several photos in full uniform.
Someone else in uniform was his best friend, Nate Thai. As we saw from McCain's Media Day vlog, he was decked out in full gear. He sported his buddy's previously-unused No. 30 jersey he initially had when he joined the Oklahoma City Thunder at the 2026 NBA trade deadline.
Thai showed off his jokester personality. Thanks to McCain's forward-thinking YouTube series that shows fans authentic behind-the-scenes footage, he's turned into a local
fan favorite and part of the OKC mythos. You can see the rest of the Thunder players treat him with younger-brother vibes.
It's clear how affectionate and full of love McCain and Thai are for each other. The best-friend duo recently partnered with 'Hinge' to show just how healthy a solid friendship can be. Especially for Gen Z men who struggle to form bonds as they enter their adulthood years.
"Me and Nate, we troll all the time. But we both know if we need to have a serious conversation, we’ll get serious and we can be vulnerable with each other," McCain told Thunder Wire. "We’ll have a serious conversation, and then we’ll say a joke right after. That’s just what friends are for. They can help you be a better version of yourself."
The male loneliness epidemic has been a recent talking point over the years. It is a heavily-discussed cultural and health phenomenon that typically affects people who grew up in the social media era. As folks age out of their education years, forming friendships becomes even more high-maintenance in their late 20s and beyond.
The dating app — along with McCain and Thai — hopes to bridge that gap. Hinge has started a 'How We Friend' campaign to bring awareness to the topic. Plenty of data and anecdotal evidence suggest it's even more difficult than ever to form healthy friendships. That doesn't have to be permanent.
"I used to always think whoever you've known the longest is your best friend. I just met Jared two and a half years ago, and that's my guy. That's my brother for real," Thai told Thunder Wire. "In three years, I feel like I've known him my whole life."
It's cool to see McCain have such a glass-half-full approach in life. Especially being in a results-oriented business such as the NBA. When you're in that type of industry, it's easy to let your cynicism grow. But despite being blindsided at the 2026 NBA trade deadline, he's remained as joyful as ever. There's real power and strength in that.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Jared McCain is hoping to promote male friendship in team-up with dating app
