The Philadelphia 76ers have to cope with a major setback: rookie guard Jared McCain, one of the few bright spots in a disappointing season so far, will miss the rest of the 2024-25 season.
The franchise confirmed on Thursday that the 20-year-old will not return until next season at the earliest after his meniscus injury and subsequent surgery.
Jared McCain impressively showed in his first 23 games why the Sixers selected him with the 16th pick in the draft. In an average of 25 minutes per game, he scored 15.3 points, grabbed 2.4 rebounds and dished 2.6 assists. With strong shooting percentages of 46 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from downtown and 87.5 percent from the free throw line, he even outperformed some higher-drafted teammates. Despite his injury-related absence, McCain remains the league leader in points per game among rookies and continues to be one of the best three-point shooters in his class.
McCain’s absence: bitter loss for Philadelphia
McCain’s absence is a major blow for the Philadelphia 76ers, who are currently in 11th place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 15-20. The guard was a key player on offense and considered one of the top contenders for the Rookie of the Year award.
Now the Sixers have to find their way back into the playoff race without their talented young player. With the team currently four wins behind sixth place, which guarantees a direct playoff qualification, this goal will be even more challenging without McCain.
Sixers injury woes
McCain’s injury is another chapter in the 76ers’ long list of injuries. Superstars Joel Embiid and Paul George are also constantly struggling with injuries and are not regularly available to Philadelphia.