Jared McCain debuted in the Philadelphia 76ers’ loss to the Chicago Bulls on November 4th after last playing nearly 11 months ago. Fast forward nine days later and he’s yet to score this season, signifying a need for change.
The 76ers assigned McCain to the Delaware Blue Coats on Thursday afternoon, the team announced. He’s expected to play in Delaware’s next two games with larger minute stints to readjust to NBA-level intensity. Given his early struggles, such a change of pace could benefit McCain long-term.
Inside McCain’s slump
McCain played three games this season in which he shot 0-9 from the field and 0-2 from three-point range. He was uncomfortable creating off the dribble and unreliable from beyond the arc – his two calling cards from last season.
McCain is wearing a left knee brace, which limits his mobility. He will likely continue sporting it for an extended period as a precautionary measure. McCain tore his meniscus against the Indiana Pacers on December 13th and missed the rest of the 2024-25 campaign.
To worsen matters, he also suffered a torn UCL in his right thumb during a workout on September 25th, which caused him to miss Philadelphia's first six games.
Between recovering from two separate injuries and general rust, it's no wonder McCain has struggled in the dramatic fashion he has. For McCain to surpass the heights he reached last season, he must adapt to his brace and rediscover his shooting touch. Playing with the Blue Coats could be the start of McCain’s redemption.
Getting his swagger back
One of the biggest obstacles McCain has faced this season is limited opportunity.
Philadelphia played the guard for less than 10 minutes in two of his three games in an attempt to gradually reintegrate him. It’s unrealistic to expect McCain to reestablish rhythm in such short spurts, but Nick Nurse had to prioritize playing his best guards above McCain’s reacclimation.
McCain’s offensive prowess will raise the 76ers’ ceiling, but at his current state, he should readjust in a lower-leverage setting like Delaware’s.
The Blue Coats will face the Greensboro Swarm tonight at 7 p.m. EST and Saturday, November 15th at 6 p.m. This is an ideal chance for McCain to operate with a green light and shake off the rust that has weighed him down.