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During wednesday night's preseason matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets, rookie guard Jared McCain experienced a frightening fall that led to his hospitalization. The incident occurred with four minutes remaining in the Sixers' 117-95 victory.
The 20-year-old rookie, selected 16th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, was attempting to secure his own rebound when he lost balance mid-air, resulting in a dangerous backward fall. Medical staff immediately attended to McCain, who displayed visible signs of respiratory distress, clutching his chest and struggling to breathe.
76ers head coach Nick Nurse expressed his concern post-game, stating, "It was rough. I've never quite seen a fall like that one before." The severity of the situation prompted immediate medical evaluation, with McCain being transported to a local hospital for further assessment.
Early Thursday morning brought positive news as team representatives confirmed McCain's discharge from the hospital. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the former Duke standout was diagnosed with pulmonary contusions but appears to have avoided more serious injury. The rookie will undergo additional concussion evaluation on Thursday.
Veteran teammate Kelly Oubre Jr. offered an optimistic perspective: "It was very scary. He caught himself, luckily. He didn't fall flat on his back." Oubre emphasized the importance of McCain's full recovery before returning to play, particularly with the regular season approaching.
Prior to the incident, McCain had been showing promising preseason form, averaging 12.8 points and 4.6 rebounds across five games. The guard, who averaged 14.3 points during his sole season at Duke, has been projected as a key rotation player for Philadelphia's 2024-25 campaign.
The timing of the injury raises questions about McCain's availability for the 76ers' season opener, though team officials maintain a cautiously optimistic outlook regarding his recovery timeline. The organization has announced that updates will be provided following Thursday's medical evaluations.
