The emergence of the young group led by Tyrese Haliburton has displaced some of the veterans that make up the current Indiana Pacers squad to the background. The franchise is already looking to the future, but experience remains an important value for the team’s success in the short term.
TJ McConnell has the honor of being the oldest player on the roster at 31 years old and with eight seasons under his belt. Throughout his career he has served as a substitute, a role that he will maintain for the ninth consecutive year and that apparently will be important in Indiana. The point guard played a prominent role in this Saturday’s victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, in which he recorded 8 points and 8 assists in the 19 minutes he was on the court starting from the second unit. His plus/minus of +21 was the highest of the entire team.
McConnell’s impact was praised by Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who sees in him a player capable of tipping the balance in favor of the team as part of the rotation. «I have spoken to the staff about him. “I told them, ‘Hey, let’s keep our eyes open and if there’s a moment in the game where TJ is the right guy, we’ve got to pull the trigger decisively,'” the coach said, according to the outlet. Indianapolis Star. “It was pretty clear in the first quarter that we needed him and everything he brings.”
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McConnell is under contract until next season, but only 5 of the 9.3 million dollars he will receive in the 2024-25 season are guaranteed. Indiana management stated that they will be patient in the face of a potential renewal, which is why franchises like the Phoenix Suns have already been attentive to their situation.
(Cover photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
2023-10-30 19:00:00
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