Philadelphia 76ers: The Last Dance – The Process Sixers

Episode III

TEEJ

Before the big names like Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons get rolled out, there is another player more who deserves the Process stamp as much as he could have had a statue erected next to the Rocky statue. T.J. McConnell is his name, and his story feels good like Rocky Balboa taking down Ivan Drago in the 12th round.

An undrafted player out of Arizona, McConnell made the Sixers’ roster in 2015 on a long shot. His basketball career started with his dad coaching him in high school, where he was a standout player in western Pennsylvania. His high school numbers were a prolific —  34 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists per game. Not bad for a point guard barely six feet tall.

He spent some time at Duquesne and later transferred to Arizona, where he thought the better competition would get him a better shot at the pros. It just so happened that McConnell never heard his name called during the draft, but by pure luck made his way to the NBA Combine because a player dropped out. McConnell impressed Brett Brown enough for a spot on the Sixers’ bench. At the time, T.J. McConnell was perfect for a Sam Hinkie designed roster, where winning was not a priority.

But McConnell proved himself, not only to the fans and coaching staff, but to his peers. They began to trust him more in key situations. He played tenaciously and even hit some game winners against the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks that put him on the radar of opposing coaches.

A few years later, when Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid finally rose to stardom, McConnell would grow to become a fan favorite, showing grit and passion in every minute he played. Whether it was his patented inbound defensive steal or nifty dribble to the paint pull-up jumper, he brought a spark off the bench that both players and fans appreciated.