For the Philadelphia 76ers’ promising rookie guard Jared McCain, that challenge came this week. He sustained a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right thumb on Workout Thursday. The team confirmed the injury with their official announcement, and that has Celtics fans worried whether or not he’ll be available for the start of the next NBA season.
McCain, a 21-year-old five-star prospect, was taken with the 16th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Last season, he appeared in 23 games and averaged an eye-popping 15.3 ppg. His performance pretty much guaranteed his future and had him marked down to play a big role this season. Fans had been anticipating McCain starting in the backcourt next to Tyrese Maxey. Or, he could be a bench player who provides high-impact minutes in a sixth man role.
This injury is especially troubling considering that it comes on the heals of a major injury setback in McCain’s career. After tearing his meniscus last December, he had surgery that cut his season short. The current thumb injury just muddies the waters even further. Now, there are serious questions over his status for the start of the regular season.
The Philadelphia 76ers are certainly counting on McCain to develop into a productive player. Yet they find themselves at a crossroads as they prepare to go through what could be their most competitive season without him at full strength. The team’s medical staff will monitor his recovery closely, and updates on his condition will be communicated as they become available.
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