The Philadelphia 76ers have confirmed that rookie Jared McCain will be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to knee surgery for a torn meniscus. The 20-year-old standout, who was the team’s 2024 first-round draft pick after a single season at Duke, had been enjoying a promising start to his NBA career, averaging 15.3 points over 23 games.

McCain's impressive performance included a career-high 34 points in a game against Cleveland and earning the Eastern Conference rookie of the month honors in November. However, he dealt with knee soreness after a game against Indiana, leading to this unfortunate development.

The Sixers have struggled this season, currently sitting at a 15-20 record, largely due to injuries plaguing their key players. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, referred to as the team’s 'Big Three,' have rarely played together. Embiid is sidelined with a foot sprain, while others like Andre Drummond and Kyle Lowry are also injured, compounding the team's challenges as they head into their game against New Orleans.