INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers rewarded another member of last season’s playoff team, signing guard T.J. McConnell to a contract extension.
While the team didn’t disclose terms of the deal, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported it was a four-year extension worth $45 million.
“It is safe to say that every team in the NBA would like a player that possesses the same intensity, competitive spirit, and passion for the game and his teammates as T.J. McConnell,” said President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard.
“T.J. has become a steadying veteran presence for our team both on and off the court, and his value to our franchise cannot be overstated. He was an integral part of our success last year and we’re happy that he will continue to be a part of what we’re building here.”
McConnell’s season started on a humbling note. After the team signed Bruce Brown in free agency and decided Andrew Nemhard would run the second unit, coach Rick Carlisle informed McConnell that his playing time would be limited.
By mid-November, McConnell worked his way back into the rotation. He simply brought too much energy, toughness and scoring ability to keep him on the bench.
Eventually, the team traded Brown to Toronto in the Pascal Siakam deal, bumping Nembhard up to the starting lineup and putting the second unit in McConnell’s capable hands.
Time and time again, McConnell proved his worth to the team, picking up key minutes in key situations and outhustling everyone on a nightly basis.
During the second half of the season, McConnell was lights out, averaging 25.8 points per 36 minutes and shooting nearly 58% from the field. Driving buckets stopped opponents’ runs or triggered one from the Pacers; pesky defensive play grated on teams and resulted in turnovers.
In the playoffs, his 20-point, nine-assist effort in Game 6 helped close out the Milwaukee Bucks in their first-round series. He hit double digits five times in the Pacers’ seven-game series against the New York Knicks and scored 23 points in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics.
McConnell initially signed with the Pacers as a free agent in 2019 after spending four seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers. He went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft.