5 Reasons for Philadelphia 76ers to Keep T.J. McConnell

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March 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reaches for the basketball against Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (12) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the 76ers 117-105. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Never content

One of the reasons that T.J. was able to stick around last season was because he was never content with where he was at in his game. He could have looked at an accomplished summer league, or training camp, or preseason, and at this point, even last year’s regulars season and say, “well, I’m happy with where I’m at.”

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Even if McConnell did say he was happy and stopped improving, he would have improved vastly compared to where he came into the league at, and it would have been an accomplishment. But he never got content.

Coming into summer league this year, he was on the roster, but also was very vocal about being happy to be there and guiding some of the players who were going through summer league for the first time. He also seemed eager to work on his game as early as possible and get himself in front of the coaches as quickly as he could.

Jumping back to before he was drafted, McConnell was actually the very last player invited to the NBA combine. One could argue, though, after his freshman NBA season, he deserved to be invited to the combine right away. That’s all because McConnell never got content, and likely never will be content. He’s an underdog, but he never stops fighting.

Speaking to Bob Cooney of Philly.com, McConnell talked about his mindset and on not being complacent.

"Nothing’s guaranteed. My thing is that if I’m ever going to get complacent, that’s when things won’t work out well for me. I’ve just never been complacent in any role that I’ve had. I have the confidence that I can play in the NBA, but I’m not going to rest on my laurels just because I think that. I want to have the same mindset that I’m going to play and practice every day like this is my last day on the job. I don’t think that will ever change for me"

Unfortunately for McConnell, who signed a four-year deal in his rookie season, that was all non-guaranteed, there is a ton to prove. Every year he will have to show he’s worthy of receiving that deal, but luckily for McConnell, that’s when he does his best work.

When his mind is in this state of non-complacency, he keeps adding things to his game and doing things better.

Billy Lange, who was the head coach of the Sixers’ Utah Summer League team, had this to say about McConnell:

"He’s never satisfied. You take him out of a summer league scrimmage and put a new player in, he’s like, ‘No. I want to stay in that game.’ That’s just who he is and how he ticks"

McConnell also bets on himself and has clear-cut goals. He could have been drafted, according to his agent (speaking to AZCentral) if he was willing to get stashed overseas. Instead, he decided he would take the challenge of making an NBA squad.

"Emens said all 15 teams McConnell worked out for invited him to play summer ball and that McConnell might have been drafted had he agreed to be a “draft-and-stash” second-rounder who would be sent directly to the D-League with no chance of making the NBA club."

Coaches love him and his work ethic, and for that reason, he’s a great locker room addition, as well.

Next: Complimenting his teammates