Sixers’ T.J. McConnell Has Himself A Career Moment

The Sixers climbed back late against the Knicks to pull out an exciting victory, and it was all a result of an unforgettable moment T.J. McConnell will never forget.

T.J. McConnell’s short NBA career has been filled with uncertainty and exceeding expectations. You might ask how those two go hand in hand. When the Sixers signed McConnell in the summer of 2015, he was looked at as merely a fill-in for the Summer League roster. Even after an excellent Summer League, McConnell was looked at as a long shot to make the roster.

Alas, he was selected to the regular season roster, and he would immediately get big NBA minutes. Tony Wroten and Kendall Marshall were both rehabbing from injury to start the season, leaving just Isaiah Canaan and McConnell as the team’s only point guards. Many thought his minutes would be temporary, and when Wroten and Marshall would return, McConnell would regress.

Hardly anyone could imagine McConnell not only outplayed the two, but was undoubtedly the next best option for the Sixers at point guard. He made waves in his rookie seasons, leading all first-year players in steals. He was near the top of the boards in steal metrics as well as assists. His rookie season got him All-Rookie team votes, a long way in a short time for an undrafted afterthought.

More from Philadelphia 76ers

• 3 Reasons the 76ers Should Poach Blake Griffin From the Celtics
• 3 Most Overpaid 76ers Heading Into the 2023 Season
• Ranking Daryl Morey’s 3 Biggest Mistakes with 76ers
• 3 Teams Crazy Enough to Trade for James Harden
• James Harden Putting Career in Jeopardy With Holdout Threat

A summer later, McConnell was once again viewed as an emergency backup. With the signing of Sergio Rodriguez and Jerryd Bayless, McConnell was the third point guard at best. Bayless went down for the season after trying to play through a wrist injury, and Rodriguez struggled with illness. In Rodriguez’s time out, McConnell took advantage of the opportunity.

He has averaged 9.2 assists in the past five games, being an integral part of a 4-1 streak. He was key in the team’s latest win against the New York Knicks. McConnell, ever the opportunist, received an Ersan Ilyasova pass with 2.5 seconds left on the clock and the Sixers down one point. McConnell fakes baseline, forcing Carmelo Anthony to commit. He then turns around and releases the ball with 0.2 seconds left.

Time seemed to freeze until the ball land safely in the hoop. McConnell sprinted down the court as his teammates chased him. His shot was the story of the NBA Wednesday night, and for the first time, everyone got to see T.J. McConnell, even if it was for a second.

McConnell had an opportunity, and won the Sixers the game. It’s a constant trend that has turned McConnell from a playful gimmick into a undeniable option off the bench for almost any NBA team. Jerami Grant and Robert Covington have long been touted as the prime examples of the process, but T.J. McConnell is placing himself near or above them.

Next: Noel Says Hinke Would Not Trade Him

T.J. McConnell’s buzzer beater might not be remembered by the general population in the next 10 years, but it’s one that will stick with him forever. His career moment is just another vindication of his unlikely success. With new obstacles heading his direction in the form of point Ben Simmons and future draft picks, he will continue to show drive to show his place in the NBA.