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76ers Could Get a Major Boost in Battle for First Place vs Bulls

The 76ers have upgraded Jared McCain for the first time this season.
Justin Grasso|
Dec 6, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain (20) controls the ball against the Orlando Magic in the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Dec 6, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain (20) controls the ball against the Orlando Magic in the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

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On Tuesday night, the Philadelphia 76ers could see the debut of their young rising star guard, Jared McCain.

According to the team’s official injury report, the Sixers have listed McCain as probable. All signs point to the star guard making his season debut with the team.

It’s been quite the journey for McCain, who hasn’t seen the court since December of last season. During his standout rookie year with the Sixers, the young rising star went down with a knee injury, which required surgery to repair.

At first, the Sixers kept his timeline for a return under wraps. Once they figured out the official recovery timeline, the Sixers ruled out McCain for the remainder of the 2024-2025 NBA season.

When McCain’s season concluded officially, he had averages of 15.3 points (46 percent from the field and 38 percent from three), along with 2.6 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and nearly 1.0 steals. When he went down, McCain was widely regarded as the favorite for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award. In the end, he was voted seventh after seeing his season get limited to 23 matchups.

Heading into training camp, McCain was set to be a full participant after a long recovery. Just a few days before the Sixers fired up their first practice session of the offseason, McCain suffered a UCL injury. He needed surgery on his thumb, which ruled him out for the entire preseason, along with the start of the regular season.

Jared McCai
Dec 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain (20) and Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) in action at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Without McCain, the Sixers’ backcourt has been thriving. However, it’s clear that his value in the shooting department adds a needed element. Plus, depth is important for the Sixers, who have been issuing heavy minutes to guards such as Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

Going into Tuesday’s game, the Sixers and the Bulls hold the same record of 5-1. They are both at the top of the Eastern Conference. When McCain returns to the court, he could have a minute restriction. Regardless of what his playing time looks like, the Sixers are trending in the right direction with their health.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s Philadelphia 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia Threads: @JGrassoMedia

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