Wikipedia

T. J. McConnell

Timothy John McConnell Jr.(born March 25, 1992)[1]is an American professionalbasketballplayer for theIndiana Pacersof theNational Basketball Association( NBA ). He playedcollege basketballfor theDuquesne Dukesand theArizona Wildcats.

T.J. McConnell
McConnell with thePhiladelphia 76ersin 2015
No. 9 – Indiana Pacers
PositionPoint guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born(1992-03-25)March 25, 1992(age 32)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,U.S.
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High schoolChartiers Valley
(Bridgeville, Pennsylvania)
College
NBA draft2015:undrafted
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2015–2019Philadelphia 76ers
2019–presentIndiana Pacers
Career highlights and awards
  • APhonorable mentionAll-American(2015)
  • First-teamAll-Pac-12(2015)
  • Second-team All-Pac-12 (2014)
  • 2× Pac-12 All-Defensive Team (2014, 2015)
  • Third-team All-Atlantic 10(2012)
  • Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team (2012)
  • Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year (2011)
  • Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team (2011)
Statsat NBAEdit this at Wikidata
StatsatBasketball ReferenceEdit this at Wikidata

High school career

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McConnell attendedChartiers Valley High Schoolin thePittsburgh-area borough ofBridgeville, Pennsylvania,where he played for his father, Tim.[2]As the team captain his senior year, he averaged 34.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game,[1]earned first-team all-state honors, was named theAssociated Press's Pennsylvania Class 3A Player of the Year, and also named the male athlete of the year for all sports by thePittsburgh Post-Gazette.[1]He led the Colts to a 29–2 record, theWPIALchampionship, and a berth in the Class 3A state championship game as a senior in which he lost to Philadelphia'sNeumann-Goretti.[3][4]

College career

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T.J. McConnell for Arizona in 2014

As a freshman forDuquesnein 2010–11, McConnell averaged 10.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.8 steals per game in 32 appearances (30 starts), earning 2011 Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Year honors.[1][3]

As a sophomore in 2011–12, he averaged 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.8 steals per game, helping the Dukes to a 16–15 record and earning third-team All-Atlantic 10 Conference honors and a spot on the A-10 All-Defensive Team.[1][3]

In April 2012, he transferred toArizonawhere he was subsequently forced to sit out the 2012–13 season due to NCAA transfer rules.[1][5]McConnell's transfer was motivated by a desire to compete for a national championship.[6]

In the 2013–14 season, McConnell helped lead the Wildcats to a 21–0 record to start the season before teammateBrandon Ashleyinjured his foot and was sidelined for the rest of the season. The season culminated in an Elite 8 appearance for the Wildcats.[7]As a senior, McConnell was voted first-teamAll-Pac-12and named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team, and he helped lead Arizona to another appearance in the Elite Eight.[8]On December 18, 2024 McConnell became the 34th Arizona Wildcat to have his named inducted into theArizona Basketball Ring of Honor,doing so by playing 10 years in the NBA.[9]

Professional career

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Philadelphia 76ers (2015–2019)

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After going undrafted in the2015 NBA draft,McConnell joined his home state team thePhiladelphia 76ersfor the2015 NBA Summer League.[10]On September 27, 2015, he signed with the 76ers.[11]He played well during preseason, averaging 6.2 points and 4.8 assists in five games, earning himself a spot on the 76ers' opening night roster.[12]He went on to make his NBA debut in the team's season opener against theBoston Celticson October 28. In 27 minutes of action, he recorded four points, four assists, and three steals in a 112–95 loss.[13]On February 6, 2016, while starting at point guard in place of the injuredIsh Smith,McConnell tied his season-high of 17 points in a 103–98 win over theBrooklyn Nets.[14]On March 23, in a loss to theDenver Nuggets,he had a 17-point outing for a third time in 2015–16.[15]At the season's end, he received two votes in the 2016NBA All-Rookie Teamvoting.[16]

McConnell defending againstWashington Wizards'Bradley Bealin February 2018

In July 2016, McConnell re-joined the 76ers for the2016 NBA Summer League.[17]On December 11, 2016, he had a near triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in a 97–79 win over theDetroit Pistons.[18]On January 6, 2017, he had a career-high 17 assists in a 110–106 loss to theBoston Celtics,becoming just the fourth player in franchise history to hit that mark in a single contest. His total was two off the Philadelphia's all-time record of 19 assists, initially set byMaurice Cheeksin 1987, and later matched byDana Barrosin 1995.[19]McConnell hit a game-winning buzzer beater against theNew York Knickswith a turnaround jump shot on the baseline on January 11, 2017.[20]

On November 25, 2017, McConnell had 15 points and 13 assists in a 130–111 win over theOrlando Magic.[21]On January 15, 2018, he scored a career-high 18 points in a 117–111 win over theToronto Raptors.[22]On February 12, 2018, McConnell recorded his first career triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in a 108–92 win over the Knicks.[23]He also matched a career high with six steals and became the first player in franchise history to record a triple-double off the bench.[24][25]In Game 4 of the 76ers' second-round playoff series against the Celtics, McConnell had a career-high 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists in a 103–92 win, helping Philadelphia cut the series deficit to 3–1.[26]On June 13, 2018, the 76ers announced they had exercised the fourth-year option on their contract with McConnell.[27]

Indiana Pacers (2019–present)

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On July 3, 2019, McConnell signed a two-year deal worth $7 million with theIndiana Pacers.[28]

On March 3, 2021, McConnell broke the NBA record for most steals in a half with 9.[29]He also became the first player sinceMookie Blaylockin 1998 to record a triple-double with points, steals, and assists, as well as the first one to do so off the bench.[30]In August 2021, the Pacers re-signed McConnell to a 4-year, $35 million deal.[31]On December 1, he suffered a right wrist injury in a 111–114 loss to theAtlanta Hawks.On December 7, he underwent surgery and was ruled out for at least 10-to-12 weeks.[32]

On January 16, 2023, McConnell recorded a career-high 29 points, scoring 25 points in the first half, in a loss to theMilwaukee Bucks.[33]On January 21, as a starter, McConnell recorded his 3rd career triple-double with 18 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds.[34]

On May 2, 2024, McConnell scored a playoff career-high 20 points and 9 rebounds in a 120–98 series-clinching victory against theMilwaukee Bucksin Game 6 of theFirst Round.[35]

On August 30, McConnell signed a four-year, $45 million contract extension with the Pacers.[36]On December 8, McConnell scored a career–high 30 points, going 14–for–19 with one rebound, six assists, two blocks, and two steals in a 113–109 loss to theCharlotte Hornets.[37]

Career statistics

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Legend
GP Games played GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
FG% Field goalpercentage 3P% 3-point field goalpercentage FT% Free throwpercentage
RPG Reboundsper game APG Assistsper game SPG Stealsper game
BPG Blocksper game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

NBA

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Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2015–16 Philadelphia 81 17 19.8 .470 .348 .634 3.1 4.5 1.2 .1 6.1
2016–17 Philadelphia 81 51 26.3 .461 .200 .811 3.1 6.6 1.7 .1 6.9
2017–18 Philadelphia 76 1 22.5 .499 .435 .795 3.0 4.0 1.2 .2 6.3
2018–19 Philadelphia 76 3 19.3 .525 .333 .784 2.3 3.4 1.0 .2 6.4
2019–20 Indiana 71 3 18.7 .516 .294 .833 2.7 5.0 .8 .2 6.5
2020–21 Indiana 69 3 26.0 .559 .313 .688 3.7 6.6 1.9 .3 8.6
2021–22 Indiana 27 8 24.2 .481 .303 .826 3.3 4.9 1.1 .4 8.5
2022–23 Indiana 75 6 20.4 .543 .441 .853 3.1 5.3 1.1 .1 8.7
2023–24 Indiana 71 4 18.2 .556 .409 .790 2.7 5.5 1.0 .1 10.2
Career 627 96 21.5 .516 .350 .784 3.0 5.1 1.2 .2 7.5

Play-in

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021 Indiana 2 0 23.6 .625 .000 1.000 3.5 4.0 3.0 .0 10.5
Career 2 0 23.6 .625 .000 1.000 3.5 4.0 3.0 .0 10.5

Playoffs

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018 Philadelphia 10 2 15.5 .694 .667 .600 2.6 2.3 .6 .0 5.5
2019 Philadelphia 9 0 8.3 .444 — — .7 1.2 .2 .1 2.7
2020 Indiana 3 0 9.3 .375 — .500 2.0 2.3 .0 .0 2.3
2024 Indiana 17 0 20.5 .486 .269 .867 3.1 5.1 .9 .1 11.8
Career 39 2 15.5 .508 .310 .773 2.3 3.3 .6 .1 7.3

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2010–11 Duquesne 32 30 30.6 .498 .402 .683 3.8 4.4 2.8 .2 10.8
2011–12 Duquesne 31 31 34.3 .509 .432 .836 4.4 5.5 2.8 .3 11.4
2013–14 Arizona 38 38 32.3 .454 .360 .620 3.6 5.3 1.7 .2 8.4
2014–15 Arizona 38 38 30.5 .498 .321 .829 3.8 6.3 2.2 .1 10.4
Career 139 137 31.8 .490 .380 .749 3.9 5.4 2.3 .2 10.2

Franchise records

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NBA Records

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  • NBA Record most steals in a half (9).[29]

Personal life

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His father, Tim, is one of the most successful coaches in WPIAL (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League) history. After many successful runs with theChartiers Valley High SchoolBoys and Girls basketball teams, McConnell was summoned by Bishop Canevin's athletic director, Dale Checketts, to become the head coach of theBishop Canevin High SchoolBoys basketball team, a position recently vacated by T.J's roommate atDuquesne University,Gino Palmosina. Additionally, he is often seen jogging at Collier Park, which is also the location of the T.J. McConnell Memorial Court.[40]He played at Waynesburg College (now Waynesburg University) from 1984 to 1986.[2][41]

T.J. has two siblings: Matthew and Megan. Matthew "Matty" McConnell took his basketball talents toRobert Morris Universitybefore his graduation in 2018. Matthew and T.J. both share the same notable distinction as the only two players in the history ofChartiers Valley High Schoolbasketball to accrue 2,000 points in their high school careers. Megan McConnell, a former star basketball player atChartiers Valley High School,is currently one of the lead guards forDuquesne University's Women's Basketball.

His aunt,Suzie McConnell-Serio,was an All-American at Penn State (1985–1988), Olympic gold medalist and W NBA standout prior to being inducted to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. She started her college coaching career at Duquesne.[1]

He married his high school sweetheart, Valerie, at Holy Child Parish (now known as Corpus Christi Parish) in September 2017; teammateNik Stauskas,and his roommate atDuquesne University,Gino Palmosina, served as the groomsmen.[42]

Awards and honors

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High school
  • AP first-team all-state honors
  • AP Pennsylvania Class 3A Player of the Year
College[1]
  • NCAA Tournament West Region All-Tournament Team (2015)
  • District IX All-District TeamUSBWA(2015)
  • Pac-12 Tournament All-Tournament Team (2015)
  • First-teamAll-Pac-12(2015)
  • Second-teamAll-Pac-12(2014)
  • 2x Pac-12 All-Defensive Team (2014, 2015)
  • Third-team All-Atlantic 10(2012)
  • Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team (2012)
  • Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year (2011)
  • Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team (2011)
  • ECAC Rookie of the Year (2011)
  • CollegeInsider Freshman All-America (2011)

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcdefgh"15 things you probably don't know about T.J. McConnell".Arizona Daily Star.March 20, 2015.RetrievedOctober 26,2015.
  2. ^abSmith, Nathan (February 4, 2015)."McConnell reaches coaching milestone with Chartiers Valley".Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.RetrievedOctober 22,2024.
  3. ^abc"T.J. McConnell Biography".ArizonaWildcats.RetrievedMarch 29,2014.
  4. ^Michael Bullock (March 27, 2010)."Neumann-Goretti hangs on to beat Chartiers Valley 65-63 in PIAA Class AAA basketball championship".RetrievedOctober 22,2024.
  5. ^"Arizona Basketball: Former Duquesne PG T.J. McConnell Transfers to Arizona".Bleacher Report.April 10, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 27,2015.
  6. ^Kilgore, Adam (March 25, 2015)."T.J. McConnell's journey from NCAA tournament spectator to Duquesne transfer to Arizona's engine".Washington Post.RetrievedJanuary 30,2017.
  7. ^Amacher, Ezra (March 31, 2014)."2013-14 Season in Review".PointguardU.Gopher Media. Archived fromthe originalon November 29, 2014.RetrievedNovember 24,2014.
  8. ^"2014-15 Pac-12 Conference Men's Basketball Honors"(Press release). Pac-12. March 9, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on March 12, 2015.
  9. ^"T.J. McConnell To Be Inducted Into Arizona Ring of Honor on Dec. 18".
  10. ^"Las Vegas Summer League Roster & Schedule".NBA.July 11, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon April 6, 2019.RetrievedOctober 22,2024.
  11. ^"SIXERS ANNOUNCE 2015 TRAINING CAMP ROSTER".NBA.September 27, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon December 2, 2019.RetrievedOctober 22,2024.
  12. ^White, Mike (October 26, 2015)."Chartiers Valley High School grad T.J. McConnell makes NBA team".Post-Gazette.RetrievedOctober 26,2015.
  13. ^"phi vs bos".NBA.October 28, 2015.RetrievedOctober 22,2024.
  14. ^"Okafor, Noel lead 76ers past Nets".NBA.February 6, 2016.RetrievedOctober 22,2024.
  15. ^"T.J. McConnell 2015-16 Game Log".Basketball-Reference.RetrievedDecember 11,2016.
  16. ^"2015-16 NBA All-Rookie teams".NBA.May 19, 2016.RetrievedOctober 22,2024.
  17. ^Boyd, Ray (July 1, 2016)."Ben Simmons Headlines Sixers Summer League Roster".CBSLocal.RetrievedJanuary 4,2017.
  18. ^"Covington scores 16 for 76ers in 97-79 win over Pistons".ESPN.December 11, 2016.RetrievedDecember 11,2016.
  19. ^Seltzer, Brian (January 6, 2017)."Game Recap: Celtics Outlast Sixers, 110-106".NBA.RetrievedJanuary 7,2017.
  20. ^"T.J. McConnell Turnaround Jumper to Beat Knicks | Tissot Buzzer Beater | 01.11.17".YouTube.NBA. January 11, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 4,2017.
  21. ^"J.J. Redick hits 8 3s, 76ers send Magic to 8th straight loss".ESPN.November 25, 2017.RetrievedNovember 25,2017.
  22. ^"Joel Embiid, 76ers barely hold on, edge Raptors 117-111".ESPN.January 15, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 15,2018.
  23. ^"Saric scores 24 to lead 76ers past slumping Knicks".ESPN.February 12, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 12,2018.
  24. ^Seltzer, Brian (February 12, 2018)."Game Recap | McConnell Triple-Double Helps Spur Win Over Knicks".NBA.RetrievedFebruary 12,2018.
  25. ^Spears, Justin (February 12, 2018)."T.J. McConnell records first career triple-double in the 76ers' win over the Knicks".tucson.RetrievedFebruary 12,2018.
  26. ^"McConnell helps 76ers hold off elimination against Boston".ESPN.May 7, 2018.RetrievedMay 7,2018.
  27. ^"Philadelphia 76ers Exercise Contract Options for T.J. McConnell and Richaun Holmes".NBA.June 13, 2018.RetrievedJune 13,2018.
  28. ^"Report: Former 76ers PG T.J. McConnell Signs 2-Year, $7M Contract with Pacers".Bleacher Report.
  29. ^ab"T.J. McConnell Breaks NBA Record with 9 First-Half Steals vs. Cavs | Sports Illustrated".March 3, 2021.
  30. ^"T.J. McConnell sets NBA record with 9 steals in first half".NBA.
  31. ^"T.J. McConnell agrees to 4-year, $35M deal to return to Pacers".August 2, 2021.
  32. ^"T.J. McConnell Undergoes Successful Surgery on Right Wrist".NBA.RetrievedMarch 18,2022.
  33. ^"Pacers' T.J. McConnell: Pours in career-high 29 points".CBSsports.January 16, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 16,2023.
  34. ^"T.J. McConnell nets third career triple-double in Pacers loss to Suns".AZdesertswarm.January 22, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 22,2023.
  35. ^"Bench players Obi Toppin, T.J. McConnell lead Pacers into semis".ABC News.May 2, 2024.RetrievedMay 3,2024.
  36. ^"Report: Pacers sign T.J. McConnell to four-year, $45M extension".Sportsnet.August 30, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 1,2024.
  37. ^"Pacers waste 30 points from T.J. McConnell in gutpunch loss to Hornets".indystar.RetrievedDecember 24,2024.
  38. ^Begley, Ian (February 13, 2018)."T.J. McConnell first in 76ers history with triple-double off bench".ESPN.RetrievedFebruary 14,2018.
  39. ^"Fultz becomes youngest to tally triple-double".ESPN.RetrievedJune 1,2018.
  40. ^"McConnell wins 500th game at Chartiers Valley".RetrievedNovember 9,2017.
  41. ^"Please wait while you are redirected".mobile.philly.RetrievedNovember 9,2017.
  42. ^"Sixers' T.J. McConnell gets married as Nik Stauskas plays groomsman".September 10, 2017.RetrievedNovember 9,2017.
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