The Philadelphia 76ers had one of the worst seasons of the Joel Embiid era last season. Injuries and losses both piled up. The biggest bright spot, especially early in the season, was the play of rookie guard Jared McCain.
McCain was absolutely electric in his rookie season. The former Duke Blue Devil was taken with the 16th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and did not fail to make an impression early. The then 20-year-old guard averaged 15.3 points and 2.6 assists a night while shooting 46.6% from the field and 38.8% from three in his first 23 appearances, being the odds-on favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award. Then, his season sadly came to a close with a torn meniscus.
This season, however, the Sixers guard was ready to come back healthy. The young guard was excited to rejoin the rest of the team. Unfortunately, a UCL tear in his right thumb delayed his season debut to November. Since his eventual return, McCain hasn't looked like his former self. In 17.3 minutes a night, he's currently averaging only 6.3 points per game on 35.4% shooting.
One of the key reasons for this statistical regression is that minutes have been hard to come by for McCain. With MVP candidate Tyrese Maxey leading the league in minutes per game (39.4), the emergence of rookie V.J. Edgecombe, and Sixth Man of the Year candidate Quentin Grimes taking up the majority of the guard minutes, McCain has not been able to find a stable place in the rotation.
In January, McCain is averaging just 11.3 minutes a night. He’s only logged 30 or more minutes in a game twice this season, and both nights he shot 3-11 from the field.
More than just minutes, his role on the team isn’t the same as it was last season. Last year, McCain was a key pick-and-roll ball handler playing with supreme confidence. This season, his role is less defined, and he seems less sure of himself. With Maxey playing at a whole other level, and VJ filling in as his running mate most nights, McCain still needs to find what his role is.
One of the Sixers' main focuses right now should be on rebuilding the confidence that McCain had last season and getting him on the court as much as possible. One of the most efficient ways Philadelphia can do this is by sending McCain back down to the G League for a bit.
While many would prefer to see McCain simply play more minutes at the NBA level, there would be no better time for a G League stint than right now.
The Sixers are nearly fully healthy across the entire roster, with only Dominick Barlow currently dealing with an injury — and, according to head coach Nick Nurse, he's already improving to the point that the team canceled his scheduled MRI.
The Sixers have already sent McCain down to the G League earlier this season, in mid-November, for two games. In those two games, McCain, still recovering from his UCL injury, played 20.3 minutes a night, averaging 12.5 points and 4.5 assists.
Sending McCain down now, possibly for even an extended stretch, would be incredibly valuable to his progression. He could get up shots and refind his rhythm and confidence in the G League while the Sixers continue to fight for playoff seeding. Then, once McCain has had enough time in Delaware, the Sixers can bring him back to the NBA level and hope that he has returned to pre-injury form.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse discussed the idea of McCain heading back down to the G League after Thursday's practice, saying:
"There hasn't as of right now," Nurse said of talks about sending McCain to the G League. "But I think that's always a possible consideration. As of today, I was pretty focused in on fixing last night, and all that stuff and getting all the film prepared. We might have some meetings later on today or tomorrow, I think it's always a possibility, but we haven't had those discussions yet."
McCain should be viewed as a building block piece for the Sixers. If Nick Nurse does not feel he can be a consistent contributor at this moment, he should value the opportunity for McCain to play more minutes, potentially improve his confidence, and become a contributor who can push for more minutes.
McCain has shown flashes of possible All-Star potential and a very high floor when healthy. While the Sixers may abstain from sending him down and continue to hope he gets back in rhythm, that plan is not doing him or the team any favors. If they want to avoid seeing him go the Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Brunson route on another team, they need to be working overtime to help him improve.
