Shortly after going viral for a bench press, Philadelphia 76ers Jared McCain has sustained a thumb injury before the start of NBA training camp, per Tim Bontemps of ESPN.

On Wednesday, McCain was in the midst of a workout when he suffered a UCL tear in his right thumb the day before Media Day. Meanwhile, the 76ers put out an official statement.

“Jared McCain suffered a UCL tear in his right thumb during a workout today. McCain and the 76ers are consulting with specialists on next steps and further updates will be provided as appropriate.”

It looks to be a case of history repeating itself. Last year, McCain's promising rookie season came to a halt due to lateral meniscus in his left knee. Afterward, McCain underwent surgery and missed the remainder of the season.

During his recovery, McCain took time out to learn Spanish as well as how to play the Piano. Prior to his injury, he was highly touted as a strong Rookie of the Year contender. He averaged 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Additionally, McCain led rookies in scoring and 20 point games with seven consecutive in November 2024.

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In 2024, McCain was the 16th pick in the NBA Draft coming out of Duke.

Jared McCain's injury spells trouble for the 76ers

This latest injury derails McCain's progress to start his sophomore season healthy. As a result, he is likely to undergo another recovery period which could derail his chances to play in the first few weeks of the season.

Altogether, a UCL injury usually takes six to eight weeks to recover from. During his short rookie season, McCain proved himself to be a worthy presence in the realm of scoring and strong bench play. His likely absence at the start of this year will be a lost in both those areas.

Additionally, they have an aging roster with the likes of Paul George and Joel Embidd, who each have experienced injuries last season.  As a result, the 76ers are in a jam when it comes to players being sustainable and healthy.