T.J. McConnell: 'You’d think people would learn by now, but: We’re actually not done'
Tyrese Haliburton didn't recognize T.J. McConnell when he joined the Indiana Pacers, but he had a good reason.
McConnell wrote a story for The Players' Tribune recalling the Pacers' season, which ended with a Game 7 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals.
He cleared the air about a post-Game 7 moment as he headed back to the locker room ("Not my mom") and wrote about the team's approach to rallying from late deficits.
He also had an anecdote about Haliburton's arrival in a trade with the Sacramento Kings in February 2022. COVID-19 protocols were still in place around the Pacers' practice facility.
Get IndyStar's book celebrating the Pacers' playoff run
"Alright … so I’m a 6'1" white guy in his mid-30s. In other words, I’m not exactly stopping traffic as this NBA player people recognize. And that’s just me on a normal day. You can imagine, on a day when I’m wearing a hat? I’m almost definitely not getting recognized. And during COVID, when you added a mask to the mix — nah, forget it. I was pretty much fully anonymous.
"And all that is to say: It’s not Tyrese’s fault. But on his first day in Indy after he got traded, as he was walking through the facility, he and I crossed paths. And I’ve got my hat on, my mask up … I’m chilling. I’m not even thinking about that, though. So of course I just go right up to him, real excited, and I’m like, “Tyrese!!! What’s up brother. How are you??? Bro, welcome to Indy.
"Yeah, Tyrese did not know who I was. He was very friendly, but 1000% thought I was some guy who works on the business side. Then a few awkward seconds passed, until eventually I realized what was going on. I took my hat off, pulled my mask down, and we started laughing so hard."
McConnell knows a lot of NBA fans think the Pacers are out of title contention for the 2025-26, considering Haliburton's injury and Myles Turner's departure to Milwaukee.
McConnell believes everyone should have learned from the season that just ended.
"Replacing Myles will be tough. Playing without Tyrese will be … whatever is tougher than tough. But you know that feeling we all started to have as the playoffs went on — how there’s just something about this team? Man, I promise you: That feeling was real.
"And we’re going to work like hell to feel it again soon."
Please read the full article here: It Was Awful, It Meant Everything by T.J. McConnell | The Players’ Tribune
Dustin Dopirak is your best Pacers follow, and get IndyStar's Pacers coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Pacers Update newsletter.