PHILADELPHIA — The big focus for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2025-26 season has, once again, been health. The Sixers have had Joel Embiid and Paul George in and out of the lineup while also having to work second-year guard Jared McCain back from injury.

McCain was limited to 23 games as a rookie due to a torn meniscus in his left knee before then tearing the UCL in his right thumb shortly before training camp of this current season. Each game has been a work in progress for him, but he has taken steps forward in Friday’s win over the New York Knicks and Saturday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks.

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“Yeah, I felt great,” McCain said on Friday in New York. “Being able to play without the thumb brace, just trying to get used to that now and just feeling back to myself. Just continuing to get back to myself and the aggression and confidence that I play with. Yeah, we’re getting there, and I feel like I’m there now.”

That was after he played 21 minutes against a physical Knicks team when he scored 12 points and finished the win on the road. He then played 30 minutes a night later in the win over the Mavericks and had 12 points, five rebounds, and five assists while once again finishing the contest. These are steps forward that McCain can hang his hat on and keep things moving in the right direction.

“I feel like my knee feels great,” he said after the win over the Mavs on Saturday. “I feel great. So I’m just happy and blessed to just go out there and play, man. It’s such a great feeling to get in the game. Go check in the game. It’s probably the best feeling. So I’m just super blessed even to go out there on a back-to-back, especially, and be healthy and come out of the game healthy.”

The Sixers need him to continue taking these steps forward as he will be an important piece to what this team wants to do. Him finishing games now is a big development for him in his return from the injuries while waiting for his shot to return.

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“It’s amazing,” McCain smiled. “I feel like even when I was out there for the last few minutes, I was like, ‘Damn I’m finishing the game. I feel like it’s been a while.’ So, just trying to do my best defensively to stay on the floor, and then I know the offense will come.”

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers’ Jared McCain talks health after wins over Knicks, Mavericks