76ers announce major surgery update on $19 million guard

Alex Kirschenbaum

76ers announce major surgery update on $19 million guard image

Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain (20) drives against Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

An oft-hurt Philadelphia 76ers standout went under the knife this week. Now, the franchise has supplied an updated timeline on his recovery.

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Second-year Philadelphia guard Jared McCain has already gone two major surgeries prior to the official start of his sophomore pro season.

He appeared to be in the mix — and, well, perhaps the favorite — to nab Rookie of the Year honors last season, until he was felled by a year-ending meniscus tear just 23 games into the fun.

Yet another injury for Jared McCain

McCain tore the UCL in his right thumb two weeks ago. He had surgery to repair the injury last Tuesday.

Per Noah Levick of NBC Sports Philadelphia, the 6-foot-3 Duke product is set to be reassessed four weeks from the time of the surgery — so three weeks from now, which means he'll miss at least one week of 2025-26 regular season play.

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Last year, the 21-year-old averaged 15.3 points while slashing .460/.383/.875, 2.6 assists, 2.4 boards and 0.7 swipes per.

“The times I played with him in the backcourt, it was great," Maxey reflected during his media day interview last week. "Jared does a lot of things that a lot of teams really would like. He shoots the ball well, he passes the ball pretty well, he competes on defense. He’s going to do all those different things, and he’s a great teammate. So we just want him to get back healthy and can’t wait to have him back out there.”

McCain was hardly the only key 76ers cog to be hampered by health problems. 2023 MVP center Joel Embiid missed all but 19 games with knee trouble that eventually required surgery, $211.6 million free agent signing Paul George suited up for just 41 of 82 bouts, and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey sneakily was held out of 30 games with his own injury woes.

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Alex Kirschenbaum

Alex Kirschenbaum is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He grew up a devout Bulls fan, but his hoops fanaticism now extends to non-Bulls teams in adulthood. Currently also a scribe for Hoops Rumors, Sports Illustrated's On SI fan sites Newsweek and "Small Soldiers" director Joe Dante's film site Trailers From Hell, Alex is an alum of Men's Journal, Grizzlies fan site Grizzly Bear Blues and Bulls fan sites Blog-A-Bull and Pippen Ain't Easy, among others