Amidst his continued recovery after suffering a tear in the meniscus in his left knee last year and a tear in his right UCL this preseason, the Sixers have opted to assign Jared McCain to the team's G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse has found himself between a rock and a hard place as it relates to the ongoing rehab of guard Jared McCain. While McCain certainly needs to be given the opportunity to get his basketball legs back under him—not just physically but mentally—Nurse has an obligation to do everything in his power to secure these early wins.
In years past, the Sixers have valued things such as rest, recovery, and rehab over wins in the early season, and nearly every year it has bitten them come the playoffs. While wins may not seem as important in the first quarter of the season as the final, they all count the same, and as the Sixers look to turn things around from a nightmarish year last season, it’s refreshing to see the team adapt in their current situation.
McCain was a budding star for the Sixers last year before a torn meniscus in his left knee cut his rookie season short. It’s understandable for there to be some rush, whether from the fans or front office, to have him return to the court as soon as possible, especially considering the number of minutes he team’s current backcourt trio is playing. However, the Sixers are enjoying the best of both worlds by allowing McCain to continue his rehab at the G League level.
Having returned to the court on Nov. 4 against the Chicago Bulls, Jared McCain has played in three total games this season. While he’s contributed where he can, McCain has yet to score a single point this season and is 0-9 from the field in those three games.
It’s clear he needs more time to not only reacclimate himself to the court, but to adjust to his new on-court accessories, that being a brace on his left knee and on his shooting hand.
After the Sixers’ Sunday night loss to the Detroit Pistons, McCain discussed his early-season struggles, specifically his adjustment to the new braces.
“ I think I'm getting better with it,” McCain said. “We're trying some different things, just trying to see how it would feel with different sleeves over it. Sometimes I feel like I'm about to fall over when I'm running, but I'm just getting used to it. It's gonna take time, but I think I've gotten a little bit better with it. In the second game.”
According to McCain, his struggles are far more about getting accustomed to the new brace, particularly the one on his knee, and finding the opportunity to get into a rhythm, rather than struggles with conditioning.
“I feel like I'm good,” McCain continued. “I don't find myself too tired. I think it's more just getting back, literally just knowing when I'm going in, so I can be warm for it, not getting too cold when I go to the bench. But, yeah, I think it's just gonna take some time.”
In Delaware, McCain will have ample time on the court to gain comfort playing with his new brace and getting back into the proper mentality to contribute to the team moving forward.
