The Philadelphia 76ers can never seem to catch a break.
Jared McCain, the team's 16th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has suffered a UCL tear in his right hand.
"Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain suffered a UCL tear in his right thumb during a workout today, sources told ESPN. He and the team are working with specialists to decide how they will proceed, sources said," ESPN's Tim Bontemps posted.
Jared McCain injury update
ESPN's Tim Bontemps broke the news of McCain's injury. The 76ers later made it official, announcing that McCain suffered a UCL tear in his right thumb during a workout on Sept. 25.
McCain, the former Duke star, is no stranger to serious injuries.
His rookie season was cut short due to a meniscus tear suffered in December that sidelined him the entire season. Now, his sophomore season could be in jeopardy.
It's unclear how much time the 21-year-old could miss as of now, but fortunately, Philadelphia seems to have the guard depth to weather the storm.
VJ Edgecomb, the 2025 draft's third overall pick, should be primed for plenty of playing time in the wake of the injury. Veteran Eric Gordon was brought back by the Sixers this past offseason for added security.
McCain seems to be an incredibly talented player. In the 23 games he played last year, he averaged 15.3 points per game while shooting just above 38% from three. His only knock as of now is durability.
76ers brass and fans alike will hold their breaths, hoping their exciting youngster will be able to return at some point, and avoid another lost season.
UCL tear recovery time
The average amount of time missed for an in-season UCL repair is 22 games or 53 days, according to In Street Clothes. Players have returned sooner than that, such as Dennis Schroder, who was sidelined for 37 days with the injury in 2022.
Philadelphia plays its first game of the 2025-26 regular season on Oct. 22.
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