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Jordan McRae's path to prominence took him on a long, winding path, but today he can count himself as an all-time record holder. McRae broke the D-League's single-game scoring record this afternoon, dropping 61 points for the Delaware 87ers in a 130-123 win against the Canton Charge.
It should come as no surprise that McRae's record would come in the scoring department. The single-minded mentality he's showed in Summer League stints with the 76ers has likely been a reason he's remained with the feeder club in Newark. Nevertheless, it's an effort that deserves to be applauded, as are most any records set that aren't tied to futility.
McRae was far from a one-trick pony in this one; his 61 points on 21-34 shooting (16-18 FT) were accompanied by 11 rebounds and seven assists. Numbers are inflated in the D-League for various reasons, but the well-rounded effort resembles his season-long production, if not what he's shown while trying to prove himself in the summer.
In setting a record, McRae vanquished another old friend for Sixers fans: Pierre Jackson. Jackson's 58 point outburst for the Idaho Stampede in 2014 was tied with Dar Tucker for the best single-game performance in league history, but McRae now stands alone as the top dog. McRae becomes the only player in D-League history to score 60 or more points in one contest.
It's unlikely that McRae's record-setter will generate any extra interest in giving him a shot to show out for the Sixers, but at the very least, it helps promote his name while playing in a league that can often leave players anonymous. For at least one day, his pro prospects have a McRAY of hope (I'm sorry).