The Philadelphia 76ers blew a 24-point lead in their 113-111 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night, but they still walked away with one important victory, per Sixers Wire. Jared McCain finally made his return.
The 2024 first-round pick hadn’t suited up since Dec. 13 of last season, when a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee cut his rookie campaign short after 23 games. Then, just as he was cleared for the start of training camp, a torn UCL in his right thumb pushed his comeback even further. That combination of injuries kept him sidelined for nearly a full calendar year.
Feels Good to Be Back
On Tuesday, McCain was back, logging 15 minutes in his season debut. He didn’t score, going 0-for-4 from the field, but that wasn’t the story. The moment he checked in late in the first quarter marked a major step forward for both McCain and the Sixers.
“Yeah, it felt amazing,” McCain said after the game. “I was just happy to be out there. Just grateful to be able to put on the uniform. I was just making sure I had my jersey on, had my shorts on, it was tucked in, but yeah, I was just happy to be out there.”
McCain looked eager but understandably rusty. He played with a brace on his right hand and a bulky sleeve over his left knee, which limited his movement. Still, he managed two assists and a rebound in limited action while showing flashes of the pace and confidence that made him such a promising scorer before the injury, per the Inquirer.
“Conditioning-wise, I felt actually pretty fine,” he explained. “You can condition with the thumb, so I’ve been conditioning a lot lately. I think it’s more just getting used to that contact with the knee, and that was one of the first times with the sleeve over the brace. So just getting used to it.”
Getting Used to the Speed Again
While McCain’s conditioning was solid, he quickly learned that practice and rehab couldn’t prepare him for the rhythm of live NBA action. After nearly a year away, his biggest challenge wasn’t pain or fatigue. It was pace.
“I think just how fast it is,” McCain said. “How fast the game is. That was probably the biggest like, ‘OK, let’s go.’ Can’t really replicate that until you get to a real game.”
The 21-year-old guard also pointed to his shooting as a work in progress. He missed all four of his attempts, including two from beyond the arc, but wasn’t discouraged. “That third shot I think I took, it was a three, it was like wide open,” he said with a grin. “I wanted to make that one, but I know it’s gonna come. I’m not too worried about it.”
Before the injuries, McCain had been one of the Sixers’ most reliable young scorers, efficient in pick-and-roll settings and steady under pressure. Philadelphia believes he’ll reclaim that role as his timing and rhythm return.
For McCain, this debut wasn’t about numbers or highlights. It was about taking the floor again, testing his body, and trusting that his patience through months of rehab will soon pay off. “I’m just getting out there,” he said. “It’s fine.”
The Sixers finish their back-to-back Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, where McCain will have another chance to shake off the rust and continue his climb back to form.
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