T.J. McConnell

T.J. McConnell's Biography

Timothy John McConnell Jr., better known as T.J McConnell, was born on March 25, 1992. He is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Over his life and career, he has continually demonstrated a level of skill that has been extensively acknowledged.

McConnell initially showcased his basketball talent during his high school years. He attended Chartiers Valley High School in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, where he played for his father, Tim McConnell, showcasing his family’s rich history in sports. Reaching new heights in his senior year, he averaged 34.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game, earning him first-team all-state honors. Not only was he named the Associated Press’s Pennsylvania Class 3A Player of the Year, but he was also recognized as the male athlete of the year for all sports by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He led the Colts to a fantastic 29-2 record, making it to the WPIAL championship, and a berth in the Class 3A state championship game.

After high school, McConnell went on to play college basketball for the Duquesne Dukes and the Arizona Wildcats, with his freshman year at Duquesne in 2010 -11 seeing him average 10.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.8 steals per game in 32 appearances. His sophomore year wasn’t any less impressive, aiding the Dukes to a 16-15 record and earning multiple recognitions.

In 2012, he transferred to Arizona Wildcats due to his desire to compete for a national championship. Consequently, he had to sit out the 2012-13 season due to NCAA transfer rules. His time at Arizona saw the team recording a 21-0 record, starting the season before one of the key players was injured. Nevertheless, the Wildcats still made it to the Elite Eight.

Despite not being drafted in the 2015 NBA Draft, McConnell caught the eye of the Philadelphia 76ers, his home state team. He signed with them and played with remarkable determination during the preseason, sealing his spot on the 76ers’ opening night roster. Over his tenure with the 76ers, he scored a career-high of 17 points in multiple games and re-joined the team for the 2016 NBA Summer League. Achieving several career highs and near-triple-doubles, McConnell’s stay at the 76ers led to the team exercising the fourth-year option on their contract with him in June 2018.

In 2019 McConnell made a move to the Indiana Pacers. His journey with the Pacers has been milestones-filled. He broke the NBA record for the most steals in a half with 9 in March 2021, becoming the first player since Mookie Blaylock in 1998 to record a triple-double with points, steals, and assists, and also the first to do it off the bench.

Despite a few injuries and setbacks, McConnell has continued to shine on the court. In May 2024, he scored a playoff career-high 20 points in a 120-98 series-clinching victory against the Milwaukee Bucks, proving his worth once again. He later signed a contract extension with the Pacers for four years, worth $45 million, in August 2024.

Family is crucial to McConnell. His father, Tim, is one of the most successful coaches in WPIAL history. He coached the Chartiers Valley High School Boys and Girls basketball teams. T.J.’s siblings, Matthew and Megan, are also basketball players, with Matthew attending Robert Morris University and Megan playing for Duquesne University’s Women’s basketball team. His aunt, Suzie McConnell-Serio, was an All-American at Penn State, Olympic gold medalist, and WNBA standout before being inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

Off the court, T.J. married his high school sweetheart, Valerie, in 2017, surrounded by teammates and roommates from Duquesne University. McConnell’s journey, filled with family, basketball greatness, and personal achievement, promises even more to look forward to in his career ahead.