Three years in the NBA keep telling T.J. McConnell he’s legit, but doubt still arises sometimes.
Like when the former Arizona Wildcats standout has to tell his compelling story himself. You’ve certainly heard it: average-sized mid-major player transfers to Arizona, plays well but goes undrafted after his senior season, then somehow makes the Philadelphia 76ers and becomes a valued part of the roster.
Telling that story, not just playing it out, requires a different skill.
“Did you see it? Did I look all right?” McConnell asked, when approached after he addressed the 285 young participants of the Sean Miller Camp at McKale Center on Wednesday.
McConnell was fine, of course — just a little hard to hear. Wearing a gray Philadelphia 76ers T-shirt and standing not much taller than the oldest campers, McConnell spoke softly about setting goals, working hard and not letting others tell you what you can or can’t do.
“I never thought I’d play in the NBA,” McConnell told the campers. “The fact that I’m able to talk to you guys about it is pretty cool.”
McConnell said he had wanted to do so for a while. He was unable to greet the campers when Miller asked him last year, but he made it happen this time.
Arizona coach Sean Miller, right, cited T.J. McConnell as an example of how hard work and unselfishness can lead to good things. McConnell was in Tucson at Miller’s camp Wednesday.
McConnell brought a Sixers player development coach to work him out on Tuesday and Wednesday, met with Miller and several current UA players, and then dove into the really tough stuff ... talking to the kids.
“I don’t consider myself a good public speaker,” McConnell said. “But I feel like I have a good story. It’s just sending a message to the kids that you should never give up on chasing your dreams. And if there is one person I’d like to do it for, it was coach Miller. It was kind of a no-brainer, to be with him and help in any way that I could.”
During his introduction of McConnell to his campers, Miller cited McConnell as an example of how hard work and unselfishness can lead to good things.
“He always played the game to win it,” Miller said.
T.J. McConnell, right, and Joel Embiid celebrate during the second half of a Game 4 Eastern Conference semifinal win. McConnell had 19 points. “If I saw a lane, I took it,” he said.
McConnell has visited Tucson only twice since leaving UA in 2015. He says he’s kept in touch with Miller and tried to keep up with the Wildcats whenever his schedule allows.
That wasn’t always easy last year for any UA fan or former player, of course. The Wildcats were one of the teams named in the federal investigation into college basketball. Assistant coach Book Richardson was arrested on federal bribery and fraud charges in September, just two weeks after he attended McConnell’s wedding.
Later in the season, an ESPN report alleged Miller discussed a pay-for-play scheme.
“It was definitely hard seeing the negative publicity the school and people were getting,” McConnell said. “I thought it was quite unfair, to be honest. But it is what it is. They were able to get through it and say together as a team and that just speaks volumes about coach Miller.”
When asked if any particular allegation struck him as unfair, McConnell spoke of the entirety of it all.
“I really don’t know the whole story so I can’t really comment on that, but I just feel like there was an unnecessary cloud over the program in my opinion,” he said. “But just the fact that coach Miller kept the guys together … I can’t say enough things about coach.”
Arizona guard T.J. McConnell and coach Sean Miller embrace during the 2015 Elite Eight loss to Wisconsin.
Not only did Miller coach McConnell for three seasons with the Wildcats — including 2012-13, when McConnell sat out as a redshirt transfer from Duquesne — but he also helped McConnell get into the NBA by lobbying for him to get a last-minute invite to the 2015 NBA combine.
“It kind of dropped my name out more since it was televised,” McConnell said. “And it was just cool to be a part of, really. It was pretty cool.”
McConnell worked out for 16 NBA teams. He agreed to terms with Philadelphia hours after the 2015 draft concluded.
That was when McConnell’s story really started picking up. He made the team as a rookie and said it was during his second season, when he started 51 games, that he felt more comfortable that he belonged in the NBA.
Last season, McConnell reverted to a reserve role again but, with the Sixers down 0-3 to Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinal last month, was given a rare start in Game 4 to shake things up.
T.J. McConnell recorded a career-high 19 points when he started Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
He did just that, scoring a career-high 19 points to lead Philadelphia to a 103-92 win.
“There was so much on the line in the Boston series that I always think back to that game and how crazy it was,” McConnell said. “I found out (about the start) in shootaround. It’s a really big difference when you’re starting versus coming off the bench. My mentality completely switched.”
McConnell was flexible, as he’s learned to be.
“The NBA is all about a league of change,” McConnell said. “You have to adapt to it and the people who adapt to it the best survive, unless you’re a star player. I kind of just try to do whatever the coaching staff needs me to do as long as I can get out on the court, and just try to make a difference.”
The Sixers indicated this week again that he is making a difference. The team agreed to pick up an option year in McConnell’s four-year contract that will pay him $1.6 million next season.
His story keeps getting bigger. Even if McConnell refuses to change the principles that helped create it.
“It’s obviously great that they picked up my option, but I play with a chip on my shoulder no matter what,” McConnell said. “Nothing’s guaranteed in the NBA, so I’m never going to walk in there and act like I’ve arrived. It’s a thing for me just playing as hard as I can all the time and continuing to just stay the course.”