LeBron James: 'One of my favorite players in the NBA right now is T.J. McConnell'
Since the All-Star break, T.J. McConnell is playing as well as any Pacer — averaging 13.6 points per game and shooting 38.5% from 3-point range.
Not enough has been said about Pacers backup point guard T.J. McConnell.
I wrote this week about how he’s playing the best basketball of his career and should be considered for Sixth Man of the Year. And there will be more to come on my end for sure.
But on Wednesday, it was a pleasant surprise when LeBron James opened his latest “Mind the Game” podcast with JJ Redick by praising … a Pacers guard.
And not the one you’re thinking of.
“Like one of my favorite players in the NBA right now is T.J. McConnell,” James said. “T.J. McConnell is like … Draymond (Green) as a point guard.
Redick, who is close friends with McConnell, then weighed in. “There’s certain guys that check into the game and it changes the flow of the game.”
Yep, that’s T.J.
He’s all about team. He’s adapted his game, maintained the team-first mentality through early DNPs to start the season, and has now become indispensable for this group.
McConnell — who has scored in double figures in 13 of the last 14 games — acknowledged that he saw it, but was humble, per usual.
“Yeah I saw it,” he said with a grin. “Obviously, very humbling him noticing what we’re doing here. All of it wouldn’t be possible without my teammates.”
Thankfully, Haliburton added more color (and praise).
“It’s hard not to love T.J.’s game, especially over the last couple of months what he’s been doing,” he said. “He’s been amazing.
“I think everybody would love to have T.J. McConnell on their team just because of all the things that he can do. And just who he is in the locker room as well.”
In his ninth NBA season (and fifth in Indiana), McConnell is averaging a career-high 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game while shooting 55.5% from the field.