T.J. McConnell underwent surgery on his right hand on Dec. 7, out for foreseeable future
T.J. McConnell underwent surgery on his right hand on Dec. 7, out for foreseeable future
This is the first significant injury during his seven-year pro career.
Pacers guard T.J. McConnell underwent surgery Tuesday on his right hand to repair a torn ligament, league sources told Fieldhouse Files. He is out indefinitely.
The injury occurred early in their loss a week ago to the Atlanta Hawks. As the off-ball defender, McConnell reached in to try to swipe the ball away from Hawks center Clint Capela. His right thumb area got caught on Capela’s arm and McConnell immediately clutched his hand.
He went back to the locker room and did not return to the bench for the final three quarters. The significance of the injury was known right away.
“He’s gonna be out for a while,” head coach Rick Carlisle said the following day.
McConnell, who re-signed with the team on a four-year deal in the offseason, was on the bench for the next game two days later with his right hand in a black cast.
He visited with a specialist on Monday — that’s why he wasn't on the bench for their win over the Wizards — and elected to proceed with having surgery on Tuesday. The surgery was performed by Dr. Michelle Carlson at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
Surgery was required to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist, the team said.
This is the first significant injury during his seven-year pro career.
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McConnell, 29, was averaging 8.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists off the bench for 24 minutes per game. He’s a spark off the bench who always provides a jolt of energy to both his team and the home crowd. Without him, it’ll have to come from someone else.
It has been a memorable last 11 months for McConnell. He became a dad to Trace, signed a multi-year contract and the first sizable deal of his career and he’s learned more about one of his favorite off-court hobbies, wine.
In his absence, veteran Brad Wanamaker and others will help fill the void as the backup point guard.