McCain Emerges from Surgery with Surprising Update — What’s Next Could Change Everything

Jared McCain just took a big step forward, ticking off a crucial milestone with a successful surgery to fix a torn UCL in his right thumb. The procedure, handled skillfully by Dr. Michelle Carson at the Hospital for Special Surgery, marks the first piece of clarity in what’s been a cloudy injury timeline since last Thursday. Unfortunately, this means the promising guard is sidelined for the start of his sophomore NBA season, putting a wrench in the Sixers’ guard-heavy plans. It’s a tough break, especially when you consider McCain was already clawing back from a season-ending knee injury late in his rookie campaign. But judging by the encouraging words from teammate Tyrese Maxey—who’s seen firsthand the grit and hustle McCain brings—this setback feels more like a brief detour than a dead end. Everyone’s rallying behind him, knowing once he’s back, McCain’s blend of sharp shooting, solid passing, and tenacious defense will add serious value on the court. We’ll all be watching closely as he gears up for his comeback. LEARN MORE

Jared McCain has checked off the successful surgery box.

The Sixers announced the McCain underwent surgery Tuesday to repair the UCL tear in his right thumb. Dr. Michelle Carson performed the procedure at the Hospital for Special Surgery.

According to the Sixers’ statement, McCain will be re-evaluated in approximately four weeks, which is the first timeline detail since he suffered the injury last Thursday.

That formalizes the fact McCain will miss the start of his second season and won’t be part of the Sixers’ planned guard-heavy attack to begin the year. His last NBA appearance came on Dec. 13 of his rookie year, when he suffered a season-ending left lateral meniscus tear.

“I feel for him, man,” Tyrese Maxey said of McCain at Sixers media day. “He’s coming back from his knee, the meniscus injury, and he’s worked his tail off to get where he is today. But the thing about Jared is he’s a positive person. He works extremely hard, so he’ll get back extremely soon and I know he’ll be 100 percent healthy.

“The times I played with him in the backcourt, it was great. Jared does a lot of things that a lot of teams really would like. He shoots the ball well, he passes the ball pretty well, he competes on defense. He’s going to do all those different things, and he’s a great teammate. So we just want him to get back healthy and can’t wait to have him back out there.”