To characterize the last seven days as hectic for Suns guard Jordan McRae would be an enormous understatement.
Nevertheless, as cliché as it may sound, the "Orange Mamba" is embracing the moment and seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” McRae told Suns.com on Tuesday. “I got my very first NBA game under my belt [in New York]. I played against some of the best players in the game right away. I’m glad I got the [playing] experience, and I’m just going to go out there [moving forward] and do what I can.”
McRae signed a 10-day contract with the Suns on January 29, and made his NBA debut on the same day. Perhaps more impressive, McRae tallied a team-high four assists in addition to 12 points in just 25 minutes. This, of course, came after a record-setting D-League performance on January 26 where he poured in 61 points on 21-of-34 from the field and 16-of-18 from the free throw line.
McRae’s historic night set the record for the highest individual point total in any NBA or D-League game this season.
“Right now, I have no choice but to play hard and play with energy,” he said about earning a spot in the NBA. “Being a point guard, I want to be a leader, help run the team and get the ball to people that need it.”
McRae was originally selected by the Spurs with the 58th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft before being traded to the 76ers on draft night. He played professionally in Australia in 2014-15 before joining the Delaware 87ers for the season's final 13 games and averaging 18.4 points.
In college at the University of Tennessee, McRae averaged 13.3 points in 114 games over four seasons. He earned First Team All-SEC honors as a senior in 2013-14 when he ranked fourth in the conference with a scoring average of 18.7 points.
Known as a gym-rat, Vols fans lovingly dubbed McRae as the Orange Mamba (as a nod to Kobe Bryant, the "Black Mamba") for his natural ability to score the ball combined with remarkable athleticism.
“That’s a name the fans made up,” McRae said while smiling. “I haven’t really heard it since those days at Tennessee.
“Being back in orange with the Suns, I guess it makes sense.”