(Ep078) T.J. McConnell: Kicking Down the Door to an NBA Roster Spot
Anyone who loves basketball in the Pittsburgh area knows T.J. McConnell’s family name. Whether it’s his father Tim, who racked up 662 wins at Chartiers Valley, his aunt Suzie who played in two Olympics and was WNBA Coach of the Year, or another aunt and uncle who’ve coached at the college level, the McConnells are legendary in Pennsylvania hoops. So it’s no surprise that T.J.’s ended up on the court at a young age.
But as a 5-foot-5 freshman, there didn’t seem to be a path to a major college, let alone the NBA. However, T.J.’s tenaciousness earned him a scholarship from Duquesne and growing to 6-foot-1 helped him average 34 points a game as a senior. After two solid college seasons, T.J. made the difficult decision to transfer from Duquesne and play for Sean Miller at Arizona. He redshirted and then helped the Wildcats reach the Elite Eight in his junior and senior years. Though he went undrafted, T.J. got an invite to the Sixers’ summer league team and his relentless work ethic earned him a roster spot. He has since set an NBA record with nine steals in a game and now plays point guard for the Indiana Pacers.
Listen up as T.J. dishes on:
What his dad taught him about basketball, hard work, and life
Why he transferred to the University of Arizona and how it forced him to level up
How he had to scratch, claw, and give 110% to make the cut with the Philadelphia 76ers
Why he still tells himself that that the moment he relaxes is the moment he’s done in the NBA
Where his commitment to be a pest on defense comes from and what he learned from JJ Redick
Follow T.J.’s push to the playoffs with the Pacers and his passion for wine and coffee on his Instagram feed@tjmcconnell.
