After returning to action earlier this month following his recovery from thumb and knee injuries, Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain hasn’t really looked like himself, so the team is giving him time to return to his usual form.
Adam Aaronson of the Philly Voice reported that McCain has been assigned to the Sixers’ G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, and he will play in their games on Thursday night and Saturday so he can “get minutes and continue acclimating.” Aaronson added that McCain has “acknowledged the difficulties of playing with his bulky left knee brace,” and while he’ll still be on a minutes restriction, he’ll have “longer stints” on the court.
McCain had his promising rookie season cut short by a torn meniscus after just 23 games. He averaged 15.3 points and showed flashes of immense potential, earning Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors in November. While he was expected to be a key contributor for Philadelphia this season, he was sidelined for the start of the year after undergoing surgery to repair a UCL tear in his right thumb.
McCain returned to action on Nov. 4 and played 15 minutes in a 113-111 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s played two more times since then, but he didn’t score a single point in any of his appearances, missing all nine of his field goal attempts.
The Sixers are off to a 7-4 start due in large part to the scorching performances by star point guard Tyrese Maxey. The 25-year-old is averaging career highs of 32.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 8.3 assists, and it appears that he’s taken over as the face of the team over former MVP center Joel Embiid, who’s played six games this year.
If McCain can return to his old self, he would add even more depth to a Philadelphia backcourt rotation that also includes rookie guard VJ Edgecombe and veteran wings Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr.
The Sixers will return to action on Friday in a tough test against the Detroit Pistons (10-2).
