Jared McCain Finally Finds His Groove After Months of Struggles for Sixers
For months, the NBA world has been left to wonder when Jared McCain would finally rediscover his form. The once-promising young guard's meteoric rise to stardom was put on hold last season after a series of setbacks, including a torn meniscus and a thumb injury that forced him to miss time.
McCain's struggles continued into the 2025-26 campaign, with many questioning whether he had what it took to thrive in the league. His season debut in early November was a harbinger of things to come, as he went scoreless against the Chicago Bulls and failed to find his footing on several occasions. When McCain played poorly, he didn't just struggle – he struggled miserably.
It wasn't until the fourth quarter of a disastrous game against the Charlotte Hornets that McCain finally broke through. Trailing by more than 50 points, he connected on four threes in garbage time, sparking hope among coaches and fans alike that he was starting to find his rhythm.
For head coach Nick Nurse, this moment marked a turning point for McCain. "Tough way to find those minutes right there, for sure," Nurse said after the game, but at least we got that done." And done it was – McCain followed up his impressive display with an even better performance in the next day's win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
In a 17-point outing on eight shot attempts, McCain made five of six long-range attempts, including four in the final frame to seal the victory. For the second time in two days, he had knocked down four threes in the fourth quarter of a game – this time against a team fighting for its life in front of a raucous crowd.
McCain's resurgence was not just about individual performance; it was also about his chemistry with his teammates. With Quentin Grimes sidelined due to an ankle sprain, Nurse had no choice but to turn to McCain as his third guard on Tuesday. The young man seized the opportunity, scoring five quick points, including both of his makes facilitated by Joel Embiid.
"Obviously, the defense is going to gravitate towards him the most," McCain said. "And I think being able to play off him – I've always loved it." This has been a theme all season – McCain's struggles have often stemmed from his inability to separate himself from his teammates. But when he can find that freedom, he becomes almost unstoppable.
The Sixers' bench was ecstatic as McCain celebrated the win with his teammates. "I couldn't ask for better teammates," he said. "...Those are the moments where you're just grateful to be out there and see your team be that excited for you."
While it's still early in the season, McCain's performance has given fans reason to believe that this might be the start of a comeback story. And with his positivity and work ethic on full display, he may finally be finding his groove.
"I've always loved it," McCain said about playing off Embiid. "It's always been fun to play with him, off of him. I think it's easy to do it." For the first time all season, McCain looked like the player everyone thought they were getting – a young guard who could take over games and make big shots.
As for what sparked this newfound confidence, McCain wasn't sure – but he was thrilled to have finally found something that worked. And with his teammates by his side, there's no doubt he'll continue to thrive in the league.
For months, the NBA world has been left to wonder when Jared McCain would finally rediscover his form. The once-promising young guard's meteoric rise to stardom was put on hold last season after a series of setbacks, including a torn meniscus and a thumb injury that forced him to miss time.
McCain's struggles continued into the 2025-26 campaign, with many questioning whether he had what it took to thrive in the league. His season debut in early November was a harbinger of things to come, as he went scoreless against the Chicago Bulls and failed to find his footing on several occasions. When McCain played poorly, he didn't just struggle – he struggled miserably.
It wasn't until the fourth quarter of a disastrous game against the Charlotte Hornets that McCain finally broke through. Trailing by more than 50 points, he connected on four threes in garbage time, sparking hope among coaches and fans alike that he was starting to find his rhythm.
For head coach Nick Nurse, this moment marked a turning point for McCain. "Tough way to find those minutes right there, for sure," Nurse said after the game, but at least we got that done." And done it was – McCain followed up his impressive display with an even better performance in the next day's win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
In a 17-point outing on eight shot attempts, McCain made five of six long-range attempts, including four in the final frame to seal the victory. For the second time in two days, he had knocked down four threes in the fourth quarter of a game – this time against a team fighting for its life in front of a raucous crowd.
McCain's resurgence was not just about individual performance; it was also about his chemistry with his teammates. With Quentin Grimes sidelined due to an ankle sprain, Nurse had no choice but to turn to McCain as his third guard on Tuesday. The young man seized the opportunity, scoring five quick points, including both of his makes facilitated by Joel Embiid.
"Obviously, the defense is going to gravitate towards him the most," McCain said. "And I think being able to play off him – I've always loved it." This has been a theme all season – McCain's struggles have often stemmed from his inability to separate himself from his teammates. But when he can find that freedom, he becomes almost unstoppable.
The Sixers' bench was ecstatic as McCain celebrated the win with his teammates. "I couldn't ask for better teammates," he said. "...Those are the moments where you're just grateful to be out there and see your team be that excited for you."
While it's still early in the season, McCain's performance has given fans reason to believe that this might be the start of a comeback story. And with his positivity and work ethic on full display, he may finally be finding his groove.
"I've always loved it," McCain said about playing off Embiid. "It's always been fun to play with him, off of him. I think it's easy to do it." For the first time all season, McCain looked like the player everyone thought they were getting – a young guard who could take over games and make big shots.
As for what sparked this newfound confidence, McCain wasn't sure – but he was thrilled to have finally found something that worked. And with his teammates by his side, there's no doubt he'll continue to thrive in the league.
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! i mean, who wouldn't want to play off joel embiid? that guy's a beast on court and it's like mccain's finally found his role in the team 
. now we just gotta see if he can keep this momentum going throughout the whole season 
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i mean we all thought he had what it took but it seemed like he just couldn't shake off the struggles 
but now that he's breaking through and playing with confidence, watch out league! 
. But it's amazing how one game can change everything, you know? The guy went from being a total bust to suddenly becoming this unstoppable force 
.
. For a moment there, I totally forgot that we're talking about an NBA player 
. It's like he finally found his "groove" (no pun intended 
) and now everyone else gets to see what we've been waiting for all season 
.
.
. It's never too late for a comeback story, especially when you have a player like McCain who's willing to put in the work and persevere 
!
what do u guys think about his chemistry with joel embiid tho? seems like they're killin it on court together 
he was struggling so bad it was like watching a phoenix rise from the ashes 
and that positivity and work ethic are shining through 
that Jared McCain has finally "found his groove" after months of struggles. I mean, 4 threes in garbage time doesn't necessarily mean he was unstoppable against the Charlotte Hornets. And what about those earlier games where he went scoreless and struggled miserably? 
17 points on just 8 shots? no brainer for mvp! 
