On the eve of their 2025-26 season media day, injuries remain inescapable for the Sixers.
The team announced that Jared McCain suffered a UCL tear in his right thumb during a workout Thursday.
“McCain and the 76ers are consulting with specialists on next steps and further updates will be provided as appropriate,” the Sixers said in a statement.
McCain, 21, had been ramping up to return from a left lateral meniscus tear he suffered in January.
He packed in plenty of brilliant moments during 23 games his rookie year. The Duke product scored at least 18 points in nine consecutive games between Nov. 8 and Nov. 24. All told, McCain averaged 15.3 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 25.7 minutes per game.
McCain will now again turn to some of his standout qualities outside of basketball ability. He practices visualization and meditation, always strives for positivity and perspective, and tries not to dwell on factors beyond his control.
“Everything happens for a reason,” McCain said at his exit interview in April. “God doesn’t make mistakes and I know the universe has put me in this position to be injured to learn something. I know I’m destined for something great. I read the book ‘The Obstacle is the Way.’ … Just trying to create any advantage through all the adversity that you go through.
“There’s a saying … ‘Amor fati.’ Just love everything that comes. Even the negative, love everything that comes your way and you’ll find your way back in the positive. So I just try to take that every single day and live with gratitude. … I know I’ll be fine. I know I’ll get back to where I was, even better. Just got to be patient and be present.”
The Sixers had appeared quite well-stocked at guard entering the season — one source of optimism following an injury-ruined, 24-58 season — but McCain’s injury and the fact that restricted free agent Quentin Grimes is still unsigned changes the picture. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday that Grimes’ camp and the Sixers are “very far apart on a deal.”
As far as healthy, under-contract guards, the Sixers have Tyrese Maxey, No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe, and veterans Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry.
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