T.J. McConnell's legacy continues to grow

Labeling T.J. McConnell merely as a "spark plug off the bench" undermines the true value of the Pacers' backup point guard. 

Every time he checks into a game, McConnell forces opponents to adjust to his pace and creates chaos with his defense, providing his starters a safety net for when they return to the court. 

The veteran guard again proved to be the X factor for the Pacers on Thursday in their 108-91 Game 6 victory. Whether driving into the teeth of the Thunder defense to find open shooters, draining timely mid-range shots or jumping into passing lanes to create turnovers, McConnell did everything possible to help his team seize the momentum.

The 33-year-old ended with 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and four steals, but even that impressive stat line doesn't fully capture his importance to the Pacers. He similarly propelled Indiana to victory in Game 3 with five steals and five assists, becoming the first player in NBA Finals history to log those numbers off the bench.

Through six games in the NBA Finals, McConnell has 68 points, 19 rebounds, 27 assists and 14 steals from just 19.0 minutes a night. He's the first bench player in Finals history to tally those numbers.