A Triple Double for Philadelphia 76ers …T.J. McConnell?

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 12: T.J. McConnell #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers encourages the crowd to get loud in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center on February 12, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Knicks 108-92. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 12: T.J. McConnell #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers encourages the crowd to get loud in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center on February 12, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Knicks 108-92. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 19: A cosplay team dressed as The Xmen including Wolverine, Rogue, Gambit, Magneto and Cyclops during day 1 of the November Birmingham MCM Comic Con at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, UK on November 19, 2016 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Ollie Millington/WireImage)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 19: A cosplay team dressed as The Xmen including Wolverine, Rogue, Gambit, Magneto and Cyclops during day 1 of the November Birmingham MCM Comic Con at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, UK on November 19, 2016 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Ollie Millington/WireImage)

McConnell is X-Man Rogue

T.J. McConnell is  a very unique and undervalued player for the Philadelphia 76ers. But he has found plenty of praise in our articles. You see, this young man has been fighting virtually every game to remain on this roster. And throughout his young career, whenever he faces more skilled back-court players, he absorbs their skills – similar to that superpower of X-Man Rogue.  The pattern is all-too-familiar now. Each season, the team loads up on guards, burying McConnell in the depth chart.

He began his NBA career in 2015-16, where he faced playing behind Isaiah Canaan and Ish Smith. Then, in 2016-2017, he faced playing behind Jerryd Bayless, Ben Simmons, and Sergio Rodriguez. And finally, in 2017-2018, he faced playing behind Ben Simmons, Jerryd Bayless, and Markelle Fultz.

Grows from competition

Each season of his career, the competition grew that much tougher. But each season, he did not wilt in the face of competition. He watched, he discussed, he learned.  From Ish Smith, he learned how to alley oop, and set up his teammates. From Sergio Rodriguez, he upped his game as a facilitator, and honed his ability to set up teammates with head=turning assists.

Now from Ben Simmons, he is learning to up his game on rebounds, assists, scoring, and stealing. Each time a new player arrives to “take over” in the back court, McConnell improves by incorporating that players arsenal into his own. And now, his arsenal includes posting up triple-doubles. Wow.