T.J. McConnell is one of the NBA’s most inconspicuous players, but in the Philadelphia 76s the Point Guard has found his niche and plays important minutes as a backup point guard.
SPOX spoke to McConnell about his previous career, dealing with No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz and the development of Ben Simmons.
SPOX: Mr. McConnell, I don’t want it to seem disrespectful, but would you agree with me that almost no one perceived or recognized you as a legitimate NBA player when you signed on to the Sixes in 2015 as an unpunished player?
T.J. McConnell (grins): Don’t worry, I don’t take it that way. But you’re right, of course. I can tell by now. Also here[at an open training session in London, d. Red.] certainly not everyone knows that I’m playing for the 76s. I realize that I don’t look like the typical NBA player.
SPOX: It’s actually going very well for you. Would you have imagined at the time that you would have such a significant role in a team with playoff ambitions in a relatively short time?
McConnell: To be honest, I didn’t have any expectations at all at the time, I just took an open approach. I just wanted to come in, do what the coaches wanted me to see and let me drift with it, so to speak. I didn’t know for myself exactly what was possible for me, I don’t know that today either. But of course it has worked very well for me so far.
SPOX: You have thus become part of the “process”, even if not everyone thought you could do so beforehand. What role does the former “architect” Sam Hinkie play for you?
McConnell: Sam was the first to give me a chance in the NBA, first in the Summer League and then in the pro squad. That’s why I owe him a lot. But of course, it’s not that it stops there: Coach Brett Brown is also extremely important to me and has always given me opportunities to find my way around the team. I don’t know where I’d be without him. And Sam’s successor Bryan Colangelo also owes me a lot because he kept faith in me and kept me. There are people in the whole organization I owe something to, even though Sam was certainly the first one.
SPOX: Were there any league milestones for you, where you realized that you had arrived?
McConnell: You know, I never want that mentality. Everything goes from year to year for me. After my rookie season, I sat down and analyzed what was good and what needed to be improved and tried to work on it. I will continue to do the same. I never want to think that I’ve arrived, because you might lose the hunger to become a better player. But of course there were some nice moments which stand out for me.
SPOX: The game winner at the Knicks for example?
McConnell: Exactly. This was an incredibly beautiful moment for me and my family. One day I can tell my children that I met a game winner in New York – not everyone can do that. That’s why it was really special.
SPOX: Let’s talk about the current season. In the summer it looked like your role would be a bit smaller, as the Sixers picked a Point Guard at number 1 with Markelle Fultz, but he is known to have been injured. How do you experience Fultz and the situation around him?
McConnell: First of all, I have to say that Markelle is one of the most pleasant guys I’ve ever dealt with. He is totally cool and really well integrated with us. As far as his situation is concerned, we do not ask him when he will come back, we leave him alone if possible. He has to see for himself when he feels comfortable and how he feels, which can only be judged by himself anyway. Of course, we are still at his disposal if he needs advice or simply wants to talk. We will also welcome him with open arms when he is ready again – but none of us want to put additional stress on him. That’s an issue for him and our medical team.
Page 1: McConnell about his career and Markelle Fultz
Page 2: McConnell about Coach Brett Brown, Young Teams and Ben Simmons