Philadelphia 76ers rookie Jared McCain gave everyone a scare on Wednesday night after a hard fall sent him to the hospital. McCain, taken 16th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, went down in a heap with just four minutes left in the Sixers' 117-95 preseason win over the Brooklyn Nets.
McCain was attempting to rebound his own miss when he got caught in an awkward position in midair. His weight shifted too far back, and he came crashing down on his back, immediately clutching his chest and struggling to breathe.
As soon as the fall happened, it was clear something was wrong. Sixers coach Nick Nurse confirmed after the game that McCain was having trouble breathing and was taken to the hospital.
"It was rough," Nurse said. "Never quite seen a fall like that one before, so we're hoping he's OK."
Here is the Jared McCain fall for those who didn’t see. I’m praying he’s okay 🙏🏼❤️
pic.twitter.com/EUyY34NAnj— Aidan LaPorta (@AidanLaPorta69) October 17, 2024
Anytime a player has difficulty breathing after a fall like that, it's cause for concern. Fortunately, early reports indicate that McCain's trip to the hospital may be precautionary, and his condition doesn't appear life-threatening. Still, it's never easy to see a young player go down like that, especially one just trying to find his footing in the NBA.
For McCain, it's a waiting game now as the Sixers and fans hope the injury isn't serious. He's shown promise since being drafted, and this type of setback could be frustrating for the rookie.
But for now, all that matters is McCain's health and safety as we await more updates from the hospital.
