The Indiana Pacers have officially made the contract extension for point guard T.J. McConnell official, per a team press release.
“It is safe to say that every team in the NBA would like a player that possesses the same intensity, competitive spirit, and passion for the game and his teammates as T.J. McConnell,” Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard said in the statement. “T.J. has become a steadying veteran presence for our team both on and off the court, and his value to our franchise cannot be overstated. He was an integral part of our success last year and we’re happy that he will continue to be a part of what we’re building here.”
The deal is reportedly four years and $45 million.
McConnell, 32, is 6-foot-1, and averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 71 games last season, again serving as the floor general off the bench as the Pacers advanced to the Eastern Conference finals.
He is entering his sixth season with Indiana after spending his first four with the Philadelphia 76ers.
“We’d love to keep T.J. as a Pacer for life,” Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said in a radio interview this offseason.
“I think everybody saw his value throughout the year, over the last few years. But to see it really shine in the playoffs was something I think was a big goal for T.J., and he accomplished that this year. To have him here long term, we’d love to keep T.J. as a Pacer for life. The business part eventually comes into play for everybody, but would hate to lose that guy.”
The Pacers currently have 19 players under contract, including 12 with guaranteed deals.
“McConnell is important for the blue and gold beyond his production. He can run an up-tempo offense, which is vital for Indiana,” wrote Tony East of SI.com. “They played fast and had a pace number near the top of the league. Tyrese Haliburton‘s skills require a rapid offense. When the star guard exits the court, McConnell can maintain that system during his minutes, and the Pacers don’t miss a beat.”
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