TJ McConnell reflects on Sixers fans and his time in Philadelphia

When the Sixers picked up an undrafted TJ McConnell out of Arizona back in 2015, nobody expected much. But that’s just how TJ likes it. He had to earn his stripes in the NBA and boy did he make quite the career for a guy who essentially didn’t belong in the league at one point.

TJ showed up during the darkest days of “The Process,” when tanking wasn’t just a strategy — it was a lifestyle. And somehow, despite being a 6’1″ backup point guard who looked more like your rec league buddy than an NBA player, TJ carved out a real role. He dove on the floor, hounded dudes 94 feet, and hit just enough midrange jumpers to make Brett Brown fist pump. The guy flat-out worked.

TJ McConnell recently sat down on The Old Man and The Three podcast and looked back on his time in Philly

"Those people embraced me and treated me like one of their own." — TJ McConnell reflects on his time with the Sixers pic.twitter.com/A8Di4aK2YG

— TheYoungManAndTheThree (@OldManAndThree) May 2, 2025

Say what you want about this city — and trust me, everyone has something to say — but when a player gives Philly everything they’ve got, this fanbase never forgets. TJ McConnell is proof of that. I mean, he was a 6’1, white kid playing backup point guard for our NBA team. Need I say more about this fanbase?

Four Seasons of Heart and Hustle

In his four years with Philly, McConnell averaged 6.4 points, 4.7 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. But the stats were never the story with TJ. He was the glue guy. The pulse. The Sixer who’d go chest-to-chest with dudes twice his size and smile about it later.

By the time he left in 2019, the Sixers had gone from a 10-win joke to a legit threat in the Eastern Conference. McConnell wasn’t the face of the franchise — but he was a damn important part of the foundation.

Read More: Sixers President Daryl Morey makes bizarre comment ahead of the NBA Draft Lottery >>

Now he’s helping the Pacers try to win their first NBA title. Indiana is up 1-0 on Cleveland in the East Semis, and McConnell’s still doing what he’s always done — being a pain in the ass off the bench and keeping the energy high.

Sixers DNA is All Over These Playoffs

It’s wild how many ex-Sixers are popping up in this year’s postseason. Ben Simmons is on the Clippers bench mostly, Tobias Harris was out there for the Detroit Pistons being very average. Jimmy Butler is of course tipping-off his second round matchup against the Timberwolves. McConnell’s thriving with Indy. And even JJ Redick — who once ran off pin-downs like his life depended on it — was coaching LeBron and the Lakers before getting bounced in Round 1.

Process kids are everywhere. Just not in Philly. And that’s why it makes this upcoming NBA Draft Lottery a full circle moment as it feels we are right back to where we started. We’re hoping some ping pong balls go our way and we get the best player in the draft: Cooper Flagg.

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