Jared McCain is expected to make his season debut against the Bulls

The Philadelphia 76ers they were a mystery box heading into the 2025-26 season but came out of the gate firing, winning five of their first six games to start the new campaign. Tirese McKay was brilliant, VJ Edgecombe was phenomenaland the rest of the team follows him. Even Joel Embiid, despite being less than 100 percent and on a minutes limit, is doing what he can to help the team win.

But things are about to get better for the 76ers. In fact, one of their prized youngsters will make his season debut on Tuesday night. According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, the second-year guard Jared McCainis the 16th pick overall in the 2024 NBA draft set to return from injury tomorrow night against the Chicago Bulls, another 5-1 team.

McCain last played on December 13 last year. He has since been sidelined for the 76ers after tearing his meniscus, which was such a blow considering how well he played to start his NBA career.

In 23 games played last year, he scored 20 or more points eight times, and out of those games, he scored 30 or more points twice. Amidst the 76ers’ injury woes last year, McCain was one of their few bright spots, which was the case until he also succumbed to the injury.

McCain was expected to enter the 2025-26 season healthy, but he tore a ligament in his thumb during training camp, prompting another delay in his return to the hardwood for the 76ers. But now, the 21-year-old guard and Tiktok sensation is about to continue what has been such a promising trajectory for him to begin his professional career.

What role awaits Jared McCain amid the 76ers’ strong start?

At this point, McKay and Edgecombe appear to have two backcourts. There’s no reason for head coach Nick Nurse to strip Edgecombe of a starting spot, not when he was electrifying to start the year.

There’s also no way Nurse will insert McCain into the starting lineup, not with Kelly Oubre Jr. playing very well. So it makes sense that McCain will start the year coming off the bench and form a formidable backcourt duo with Quentin Grimes.

The 76ers have such a deep team, especially in the backcourt, and things will get even better for them in the near future when Paul George returns from his knee injury odyssey.