Several weeks have passed since Philadelphia 76ers rookie and rising star Jared McCain went down with a left knee meniscus tear. The injury knocked McCain out for the remainder of the season with a long road of recovery ahead of him. It’s never easy for an NBA player to succumb to a serious injury like this. It’s even more disheartening for a rookie whose professional basketball journey has only begun. McCain recently spoke about the disappointment he felt after his injury but also noted that he’s staying optimistic throughout the recovery process.
76ers Rising Star Expresses Painful Reaction to Injury
Philadelphia 76ers Rising Star Jared McCain Taking His Recovery ‘Step by Step’
The Sixers’ season has been mired by injuries since the preseason when Paul George first went down. Subsequently, Philly started the season without Joel Embiid. Not long after, KJ Martin suffered his own injury, and McCain too in early December. Speaking with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, McCain opened up about his feelings after learning he would miss the rest of the regular season. While there was deep pain, there was also optimism in his words.
“I started crying,” McCain said. “It was very tough to hear how long I’d be out for and to know I’ve worked so hard to be in the NBA and now it just gets taken away from me so quick. So, it was tough, especially that night. … Luckily, I’m good now and I got a little cane with me, so taking it step by step.”
It’s nice to hear some subtle humor in McCain’s remarks as he mentioned his ‘little cane.’ At least his spirits have changed since that dreaded medical diagnosis. Still, it can’t be easy, considering he just started in the league and was already one rookie making significant noise for his team. McCain was high on the Kia MVP Rookie Ladder at the time of his injury. He was also poised to hit another rookie milestone, which he has now achieved.
A Ticket to All-Star Weekend
Despite his injury and inability to play, McCain was selected for the NBA’s Rising Stars event alongside other standout rookies. Stephon Castle, Dalton Knecht, Zach Edey, Alex Sarr, and Jaylen Wells were also chosen. The Rising Stars Challenge includes sophomores and G League players. While unable to participate, McCain was grateful for the nod and surprised.
“It’s obviously been one of my goals to be in that game, and I didn’t know if I was eligible or not to even be in it, but it was really cool to be named that in the games I was played in.”
McCain was on track to win Rookie of the Year and was earning it every night. Despite Philly’s terrible start to the year, he was showing up for the Sixers in significant ways. He made headlines, scored points, and created an impact that Philly fans loved early on. McCain was averaging 15.3 points and 2.6 assists, shooting 38.3% from three and 46% from the floor. He earned Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors for November.
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