The Philadelphia 76ers announced on Saturday that rookie guard Jared McCain has been diagnosed with a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. He is set to undergo surgery soon and has been ruled out indefinitely.
The timeline for the injury remains unclear, as McCain reported feeling soreness following the team’s recent game against the Indiana Pacers, where he played 29 minutes and contributed five points and three assists. In that same game, the Sixers also experienced the loss of star player Joel Embiid due to a sinus fracture.
Selected as the No. 16 overall pick, McCain had emerged as a top contender for the Rookie of the Year award, averaging 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists through 23 games, along with an impressive 38.3% shooting from beyond the arc. Earlier in the season, when fellow player Tyrese Maxey was sidelined due to injury, McCain stepped into a starting role and even recorded multiple 30-point games. Notably, he surpassed Allen Iverson for the most points scored by a Sixers guard in the first 15 games of their career.
Although the league has implemented a 65-game threshold for major awards, McCain’s candidacy for Rookie of the Year remains intact, with the possibility of him clinching the honor if he returns in time. The last rookie to earn this title from the Sixers was Ben Simmons back in 2018.
McCain’s injury compounds the ongoing difficulties faced by the Sixers, who have been plagued by numerous injuries this season. With Embiid, Maxey, and Paul George all missing significant time, the team’s collective playtime has been limited to just 45 minutes together throughout the season.
Currently, the 76ers find themselves in 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 7-16. Despite the challenging circumstances, they are just two games shy of securing a Play-In Tournament spot and 5.5 games away from a top-six seed, which would guarantee a playoff position.
The road ahead may be tough, but there’s still ample opportunity for the Sixers to make a comeback in the weak Eastern Conference, provided they can regain their strength and health. Optimism remains as fans hope for a quick recovery and a chance for the team’s stars to unite and make a playoff push.