How Did Pacers Support T.J. McConnell?

In two seasons with the Arizona Wildcats, McConnell earned numerous awards, including two Pac-12 All-Defense honors and All-Pac-12  First Team honors.  

Indiana's entire team flew to Arizona to celebrate McConnell's significant achievement. Despite their disappointing 2024-25 season start, the Pacers' chemistry hasn't faltered.

McConnell revealed his appreciation for his Pacers teammates taking their free time to support his college accomplishments. 

“A special honor and something I’m grateful for, and grateful for everyone in the organization for coming," McConnell said.

Much like Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has come to admire and respect McConnell's tenacity and infinite motor, the veteran guard's college coach, Sean Miller, shared such sentiment with heartfelt words for his former player. 

"He has a way of challenging himself within a game... T.J.'s always had a way of being incredibly competitive and using these little things within the framework of a game to maybe even bring out more competitiveness," Miller said. "Not less. The challenge within the challenge."

McConnell is averaging a career-high 11.3 points per game, garnering trade value around the league. However, the team insisted it has no interest in trading its veteran leader, especially as the Pacers strive to improve from their eighth-seed position.

Conveniently, the Pacers' Thursday evening matchup with the Phoenix Suns allowed them to support McConnell. Nonetheless, the team understands the importance of its backup point guard and sacrificed precious time to celebrate his accomplishments.