Megan and T.J. McConnell are siblings who’ve achieved their desires of enjoying basketball professionally. After going undrafted following their faculty careers, T.J. is now with the Indiana Pacers, and Megan performs for the Phoenix Mercury.
Throughout an interview with NBA TV, T.J. McConnell mentioned his important contributions to the staff’s 2025 NBA Finals Recreation 6 victory over the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
Halfway by the interview, Tim’s father unexpectedly joined in to specific how proud he’s to see his son and daughter enjoying within the NBA and WNBA. He said, “This can be a dream come true.”
TJ’s dad crashed the NBA TV whereas his son was being interviewed
“I’ve a son within the NBA and I’ve a daughter within the WNBA. This can be a dream come true” pic.twitter.com/yVAAF9M7wG
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) June 20, 2025
“I’ll let you know proper now, he’s a warrior, it’s by no means how tall you’re,” Tim mentioned on NBA TV. “[His performance] was glorious. Simply upset he missed these two foul pictures at first. I stored saying, ‘Man, I want you’ll’ve made these two foul pictures.’ However, he recovered and we received the sport.
“I can overlook concerning the foul pictures. Something can occur in Recreation 7. We’re going to OKC to attempt to win a world championship. My son’s part of it and I can’t consider that.”
T.J. McConnell’s Basketball Profession
T.J. began his faculty profession with the Duquesne Dukes, enjoying with that program two seasons. He was honored with the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the 12 months award and chosen for the All-Defensive Group. How T.J. bought there’s an attention-grabbing story in itself after enjoying at Chartiers Valley (Bridgeville, Pa.) at for Cleveland Basketball Membership on the Adidas circuit. As soon as he bought his alternative with CBC, West Virginia, Texas and UCLA tried to get in late on him, however his aunt, Suzie McConnell-Serio, was the ladies’s head coach at Duquesne and he determined to maintain his dedication.
T.J. then transferred to the College of Arizona to play for the Wildcats his ultimate two years of school basketball. He made a right away impression on the staff, main them to 2 consecutive appearances within the Elite Eight.
Throughout his time at Arizona, T.J. acquired a number of honors, together with All-Pac-12 Second Group in 2014 and the All-Pac-12 First Group in 2015. He was additionally acknowledged as a member of the All-Pac-12 Defensive Group twice and inducted into the Wildcats’ Ring of Honor final December.
“However I simply suppose the folks right here (in Arizona) are what makes it particular,” Megan mentioned of her reflection on T.J.’s time on the College of Arizona.
After finishing his collegiate profession, T.J. spent the primary 4 seasons of his skilled journey with the Philadelphia 76ers, his hometown staff. He performed a vital position in remodeling the staff from one of many worst within the league to a playoff contender. The 76ers made it to the playoffs in 2018 and 2019, the place Philadelphia was eradicated within the second spherical each instances.
T.J.’s Tenure with the Indiana Pacers
In the summertime of 2019, T.J. turned an unrestricted free agent and signed a multi-year contract with the Indiana Pacers. He joined a franchise present process a rebuild, which included adjustments within the teaching employees.
After buying guard Tyrese Haliburton in 2022 and Pascal Siakam in 2024 by trades, the Indiana Pacers emerged as a NBA playoff contenders.
T.J. is now one of many staff’s longest-tenured gamers, alongside heart Myles Turner, who was chosen at eleventh total by the Indiana Pacers within the 2015 NBA Draft.
T.J. has turn into one of many key contributors within the staff’s final two NBA playoff runs, particularly throughout this season’s NBA Finals look, the franchise’s first since 2000.
Because the Pacers confronted elimination at house in Recreation 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Haliburton performed by a calf pressure he had sustained within the earlier recreation. T.J. stepped up with a big-time efficiency off the bench for Indiana, ending with 12 factors, 9 rebounds, six assists, and 4 steals within the victory.
His enthusiasm, hustle and activate the bench has Indiana getting ready to the franchise’s first NBA title.
Megan McConnell’s journey to the WNBA
Megan had a university basketball journey just like her brother T.J., spending 5 seasons with the Duquesne Dukes and going undrafted on this 12 months’s WNBA Draft. All through her collegiate profession, she earned loads of particular person honors, together with All-Atlantic 10 Second Group in 2023 and All-Atlantic 10 First Group in 2024 and 2025.
T.J. McConnell reveals like to his sister, Megan McConnell by rocking her jersey💜
📲 (by way of @NBATV)#WNBA #NBA pic.twitter.com/q7zMwVlF4o
— Prime Experiences (@Prime_Reports) June 6, 2025
Megan participated within the Phoenix Mercury coaching camp, the place she rapidly made a robust impression. Nevertheless, she was one of many final gamers lower earlier than the season started. In June, the staff waived guard Sevgi Uzun and subsequently added Megan again to the roster. Megan identified that she and T.J. discuss on a regular basis and each have related targets of creating a distinction for his or her respective groups.
“We’ve got this mindset, this motto of proving folks improper,” Megan mentioned through the Mercury’s coaching camp in Could. “Undrafted, drafted, it doesn’t matter. Simply go in and preserve proving folks improper, work arduous, and depart all of it on the market. That’s what he did, and that’s what I’m attempting to do.”
As T.J. and the Indiana Pacers head to Recreation 7 of the NBA Finals in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Sunday, Megan continues to show the doubters improper by contributing within the WNBA.
The McConnell’s story in an unbelievable story of perseverance, believing in a single’s self and taking benefit and being prepared for the alternatives that current themselves.
Most of all, the Megan and T.J. provide unwavering assist for one another and consider in one another irrespective of which means the ball bounces.
