The Sixer Sense
Fansided

T.J. McConnell Deserves A Philadelphia 76er Role

By Bret Stuter

Jan 16, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) and guard T.J. McConnell (12) talk as time winds down in the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 114-89. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) and guard T.J. McConnell (12) talk as time winds down in the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 114-89. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown talks with guard T.J. McConnell (12) during a break in the action against the Orlando Magic in the first half at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown talks with guard T.J. McConnell (12) during a break in the action against the Orlando Magic in the first half at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Work Ethic

If you want to know what a quality player we have in T.J. McConnell, I heartily recommend you give a few moments to read an excellent piece by Shereen Ryan over at FanSided’s Zonazealots.com.  She breaks down some key stats from McConnell’s first year:

"This Arizona Wildcat NBA rookie (McConnell) holds the top spot in recorded steals in the 2015-16 regular season at 95. Second place went to D’Angelo Russell who stole the ball two times less than T.J., but he did it in twice as many playing minutes! The next man down is Nikola Jokic with 79 in 796 playing minutes….McConnell earned the No. 2 ranking in assists with 367, only five behind No. 1 Emmanuel Mudiay, and 101 more than No. 3 D’Angelo Russell. – per Shereen Ryan at Zonazealots.com"

And the results were not given, but earned the old fashioned way – by hard work.  That’s the stuff that make any sports fan from Philadelphia sit up and take notice.  That’s the stuff we love – the guts and glory attitude we know and love in our sports legends like Brian Dawkins, Steve Carlton, Bernie Parent…

Bob Cooney of Philly.com caught up to McConnell at the end of the season for a recap of how he felt about his first year in the NBA:

"“Some days were hard but most of the days we were just happy to be here and come in and work. I just tried to get better each day, just go out and play as hard as you can and try to get a win. I’ve been going since my senior year. Right after the season, I did 16 workouts (with NBA teams). I went from the Elite Eight to immediately working out. Then came summer leagues, preseason and then the regular season. It’s just been a really long year. I’ll take about a month off and then get back to work.” – T.J. McConnell discusses his first year in the NBA"

And so, while the Philadelphia 76ers front office heats up, the young point guard drifts away from basketball for a month or so.

Next: Future