Jared McCain, Duke guard, and a social media, specifically Tik Tok star, has made headlines since high school, but especially in the past few weeks due to his tournament performance in the recent NCAA tournament. It can be debated whether or not sports are a form of creativity, but McCain's rise to an elite guard in the nation and a growing social media presence cannot be credited to anything other than his ability to be creative and think outside of the box.
McCain was first put on the radar of full time trainers at the age of 14 after being moved to a basketball centric high school to be closer to his older brother: the trainer's first impression of McCain is that he was slow and flat footed, and that he hadn't heard of him. This doesn't sound like the stand out basketball player and social media presence that would come to be known. However, this trainer did credit McCain with having a knack at figuring things out and having a normal curiosity. McCain would take this guidance from the people in his life and do what he could: attempt to learn.
His process for creativity and growth began with asking questions: he asked his coaches so many questions, they almost wished he would just shut up, but this was only McCain's chosen avenue for growth. From this gained experience and knowledge, McCain was able to adapt and improve his play until he was replacing top athletes on his team, as only a freshman.
Lockdown from COVID-19 was an adaptive time, and McCain used this as part of his process for expanding his expertise, creativity, and growth. McCain found ways to become an explosive athlete, gaining muscle and working on aspects of his game. Throughout this, he also expanded in a more traditional avenue of creativity. McCain began posting on Tik Tok, silly singing and dancing videos, just for fun, as a means of expression during the isolation of lockdown. Despite the criticism he got from other athletes, trainers, and fans, McCain has continued posting these videos, recently setting a Duke record for 3's hit in tournament play by a freshman. Surely, it seems there is a connection between these forms of creativity, and McCain's comfortability in himself and his body, both in sports and social media.
Sports may seem like a nontraditional route of creativity, that is undeniable. However, when thinking about it, sports are one of the most genuine displays of creativity. Sure, there is a structure, a format already put in place fro these athletes, but the most challenging thing is finding the new way to be the best, the new way to be fit, the new way to breakdown a defense you can't seem to get through, or a new way to break this seemingly set in stone record. Athletes have to be some of the most unique creatives to find new adaptations and new methods for all of these uniform, structured standards.
What originally made me think of McCain as an option for this post was Ringgold's mention of the Dude series, based around Wild Chamberlain. However, later in the chapter, Ringgold mentions how it is difficult for many people to understand her motivations and origins behind much of her art, as they are not in her head. I think this is how the creative process transpires for many athletes. The process of working and becoming the athlete they seem themselves as can not easily be verbalized or explained, it is innate and in ones one brain and there alone. 
https://andscape.com/features/dukes-jared-mccain-grew-up-and-blew-up-before-his-ncaa-tournament-star-turn/
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2024/3/25/24110889/nba-draft-duke-guard-jared-mccain-brooklyn-ncaa-tournament-games-wizards
I remember seeing a few of his highlights when he was still in highschool and was amazed by his level of athleticism! At around the same time, I saw his videos on tiktok and knew that he would be a sensation some day. I admire his sense of self and how he is not afraid to do the things he loves, even if it doesn't necessarily align with what people expect from him. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI love how you made a post related to something that is very current in the news this time of year, March Madness. It is so interesting to learn about the individual athletes that comprise a team because I feel that at times it can be difficult to see them as individuals since they are commonly referred to as the entire unit of their team. It’s cool to hear about how he was motivated to better himself during COVID and to push himself to be the best that he could be. I think taking the route of sports being a creative outlet is not one I considered before, but you are right, as it definitely is because it does take a lot of originality to break through and do something new in an environment that is well-established. I am looking forward to watching how McCain continues to use his creativity throughout the remainder of the tournament!
ReplyDeleteThis was super interesting to read! I have not really thought of sports as a creative avenue, but the way you presented McCain's work and mindset was super thought-provoking. I think the connection to Ringgold was also great too.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of McCain before this post, but I really liked your viewpoint of sports as a way of creative expression! Personally, I have not considered the creativity behind sports, but it is clear there is room for creative expression within the structure of sports.
ReplyDelete-Thérèse Giannini