ESPN REPORT: How T.J. McConnell went from out of the rotation to an indispensable, crucial piece of the Indiana Pacers…..
“I just try to change the game in a positive way… get the crowd into it,” McConnell said after Game 6. His dash-through-dust hustle plays, backcourt steals, and vintage jumpers fill the Pacers with a believability they didn’t have a month ago.
Though Indiana fell short in Game 7, McConnell’s emergence provided a template for how a player can redefine expectations through competitive will and unwavering energy. From fringe rotation guy to essential Finals catalyst, T.J. McConnell has been the heart of Indiana’s breakthrough story.