Jared McCain makes it clear he’s back to his groove after the Wizards’ win
After returning from a torn meniscus and a thumb injury that further delayed his comeback bid, Jared McCain looked like a shell of his former self. The Philadelphia 76ers guard lit up the NBA last year when he took on a bigger role amid his team’s plethora of injury problems, but to start the 2025-26 season, he found himself playing so few minutes it looked like he was in head coach Nick Nurse’s cottage.
In his first four games back, McCain totaled zero points on an abysmal 0-9 shooting from the field. That certainly justifies Nurse’s decision not to give McCain too many minutes. But lately, The 76ers quarterback turns the corner. He has scored in double figures in four of his last five games, including Tuesday’s 121-102 win over the Washington Wizards in Philly’s 14 points, three rebounds and five assists in 25 minutes.
With Tyrese McKay and VJ Edgecombe doing well in the 76ers’ backcourt, not to mention Quentin Grimes is always productive when he’s on the court, McCain may not earn himself more of a role than the team’s backup point guard. But McCain wants it known that he he feels like his old self already.
“I feel like I’m back to myself,” McCain said, according to PhillyVoice’s Adam Aronson.
This gives the 76ers quite a luxury, especially with Joel Embiid coming in and out of the lineup with ongoing knee injury issues. If McCain keeps playing like this, then there’s no reason for his sister to hold him back.
The 76ers are looking to survive amid Joel Embiid’s injury woes
At this point, it doesn’t look like Embiid will ever be fully healthy again. This pretty much dampens the 76ers’ hopes of contending for a title in the next few seasons.
Maxey has been brilliant all season, and Paul George seems to be getting his sea legs back, but at this point, all Philly would like to do is survive. And who knows, maybe in April, Embiid would be back in shape and they’d be in business come playoff time.
2025-12-03 04:44:00
