Jared McCain, Dereck Lively II Earn Rising Stars Honors Despite Injuries

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Philadelphia 76ers rookie Jared McCain and Dallas Mavericks sophomore Dereck Lively II were named to the NBA Rising Stars player pool on Tuesday, despite both being sidelined with injuries. The league announced the selections, which include 10 rookies, 10 sophomores, and seven G League players, ahead of the All-Star weekend events at Chase Center in San Francisco.

McCain, a 20-year-old combo guard, has been out since undergoing surgery for a left lateral meniscus tear in mid-December. Before his injury, he averaged 15.3 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.4 rebounds over 23 games, shooting 38.3 percent from three-point range. He also recorded eight 20-point performances and two 30-point games, leading all rookies in those categories.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse provided an update on McCain’s recovery, stating, “He really had to take care of himself, make sure that things were fine. He’s been around more here recently, but he’s still not to a point where it’s easy for him to get around. As soon as he’s able to start walking a little bit, he’ll be around full time.”

Lively, a 20-year-old center, has been sidelined for the past two weeks with a stress fracture in his right ankle. The former Duke standout, who participated in the Rising Stars event as a rookie last year, is averaging 9.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.7 blocks through 32 games this season. He is expected to remain out until the playoffs.

The Rising Stars competition, set for Feb. 14 at 9 p.m. ET, will feature a four-team tournament format. While McCain and Lively will not participate due to their injuries, their inclusion in the player pool highlights their impact on their respective teams this season.