Started from the bottom and now he is here. A true rags to riches story. The Indiana Pacers have agreed on a long-term contract with backup point guard and playoff star T.J. McConnell. He is a player that fits their city and their culture perfectly, tough and hard-nosed.
McConnell’s agents, Mark Bartelstein and Andy Shiffman, told ESPN’s senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski their client will ink a four-year, $45 million deal with the Pacers. In addition to the $9 million remaining on his current deal, McConnell will earn $54 million over the next five seasons.
The Pacers have been big spenders this summer keeping its nucleus in tack, following a deep playoff run in 2023. Pascal Siakam did not waste any time signing a four-year, $189 million deal at the outset of free agency in July. Andrew Nembhard received a three-year, $59 million extension. In June, Obi Toppin signed a 4-year, $60 million extension.
Olympic Gold medalist Tyrese Haliburton signed his life-changing five-year, $260 million max extension last offseason.
The 32-year-old McConnell just finished playing a crucial role on the 2023-24 Pacers, who reached the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. The former Arizona Wildcat star was exceptional off the bench, averaging 11.8 points and 5.1 assists in 20.5 minutes per game.
He and fellow reserve Toppin provided immeasurable energy off the bench to help push the Pacers into the third round.
McConnell also had the best regular season of his nine-year career, averaging 10.2 points on 55.6 percent shooting from the field, 5.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds. He finished seventh in the Sixth Man of the Year race.
Embed from Getty ImagesMcConnell joined Hall of Famer Michael Cooper as the only players to average 10 points and five assists off the bench in a single postseason (minimum of 10 games), according to ESPN Stats & Information. He ranked second in total assists off the bench in the NBA last season, trailing only the Sacramento Kings’ Malik Monk.
This extension comes as no surprise for various reasons. Michael Scotto in HoopsHype reported on June 15 that there was a “prevailing notion” around the league that the Indiana Pacers would attempt to sign McConnell to a new deal.
McConnell found a home in Indiana as a free agent on a two-year, $7 million deal in 2019 after four seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers. He then inked a four-year, $33,600,000 deal to remain in town through 2025.
McConnell was owed $9.3 million, but only $5 million guaranteed, in 2024-25, but now he has earned himself a well-deserved raise after a fantastic year.
