Jared McCain accomplishes much more than being the one constant bright spot for struggling countries 76ers: He is having one of the best starts in NBA history.

And for this, the 16th pick in June’s NBA draft should be the early favorite for the league’s Rookie of the Year award. As he showed recently, McCain agrees.

“I said (that),” he said after Friday’s win over the Nets. “It was pretty clear. This is obviously one of my goals for the season. But it’s just this competitiveness that emanates from me. I respect all the other rookies in this league. But obviously, I believe in myself. And yes, some words definitely came out in that moment.

McCain’s statement was not without merit. He leads all rookies in points (248), scoring average (16.5 per game) and made three points (38) heading into Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Wells Fargo Center. On the surface, these numbers are solid, but not overwhelming.

But consider these two stats for McCain since he was inserted into the starting lineup on Nov. 13: His 24 three-pointers are the most in the first five starts of a player’s career in history of the NBA. And his scoring average as a starter (26.6 points) is the highest for a rookie since Hall of Famer Michael Jordan averaged 28.2 points with the Chicago Bulls during the 1984-85 season. .

» LEARN MORE: Did the Sixers make a wise investment in signing Joel Embiid to a max salary extension?

On top of that, the former Duke Blue Devils guard has recorded two career 30-point performances since becoming a starter. And his six three-pointers in scoring 30 points Friday night against the Brooklyn Nets also tied a career high.

“We’ve said it before, he’s an incredible kid,” Guerschon Yabusele said. “His energy and everything he does, just pushes us to do more, you know, individually. When it’s a draw and he’s able to do everything he wants for us on the pitch, it’s incredible, you know, and it keeps us going.

The Los Angeles Lakers, on the other hand, will tell you that Dalton Knecht should be the favorite for Rookie of the Year.

The 6-foot-6 guard is tied for third among rookies averaging 11.5 points per game. He is second to McCain in three-pointers (36). And the former University of Tennessee star scored a career-high 37 points while hitting 9 of 12 three-pointers in Tuesday’s 124-118 win over the Utah Jazz. The performance tied the NBA record for most threes made by a rookie. In that time, it also allowed Knecht to go three-for-14 from 17 in his last two home games.

After that game, LeBron James called out every team that didn’t select Knecht before the Lakers nabbed him with the 17th pick in June’s draft.

“(The Lakers) couldn’t find DK. The other 16 teams (expletive) are gone,” the Lakers star said. “Has anyone been watching him?” They just didn’t (expletive).

But McCain does a great job showing why the Sixers chose him over Knecht. His 38 passed Hall of Famer Allen Iverson for the most threes made by a Sixers rookie in his first 15 games.

McCain also has a seven-game streak with at least 20 points heading into Sunday’s game. He joins Hall of Famers Allen Iverson (11 times), Joel Embiid (10) and Jerry Stackhouse (eight) as the only Sixers rookies to accomplish this feat.

» LEARN MORE: Sixers say Paul George’s left knee bruise ‘not as bad as last time’

“He’s good,” Tyrese Maxey said. “…He is not afraid. When you’re fearless like that, when you have that type of confidence, it’s a good feeling. We need it.

And that’s why McCain became the early front-runner for Rookie of the Year.