back at his old stomping grounds
T.J. McConnell was inducted into the @ArizonaMBB Ring of Honor tonight. pic.twitter.com/KXqoUu9yUw
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 19, 2024
T.J. McConnell’s name will forever be in the Ring of Honor at McKale Center among other Arizona legends, including the point guard position with the likes of Steve Kerr, Damon Stoudamire, Mike Bibby and Jason Terry — an unreal achievement from an unbelievable talent.
A former transfer from Duquesne who earned his keep under former Arizona coach Sean Miller from 2013-15, McConnell is now in his 10th NBA season when not many thought he would last past his rookie season.
After starting his career as an undrafted rookie with the Philadelphia 76ers, he is in his sixth season with the Indiana Pacers (who also feature former Arizona standout Bennedict Mathurin).
The Pacers’ team plane landed in Tucson ahead of Thursday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix. McConnell’s teammates were in attendance at McKale Center, celebrating his place in the Ring of Honor.
“I mean, I can’t really put it into words,” McConnell said of the honor in an interview with ESPN+ during Wednesday’s game between Samford and Arizona at McKale Center.
“Playing in the NBA is a job, but coming here changed my life. The pageantry and the passion that these people in Tucson here have for Arizona and the love that they’ve showed me, it was a really special moment.”
Wildcat for life pic.twitter.com/l229m82gkV
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) December 19, 2024
Former Arizona player Corey Williams, a college basketball broadcaster working the game, asked McConnell what it feels like to be in the Ring of Honor with Arizona’s “Point Guard U” standouts.
“It’s like a badge of honor, really,” McConnell said. “When I came here, they were talking about Point Guard U. I just wanted to live up to their name and their legacy and make them proud.
“That’s what I tried to do on a nightly basis.”
McConnell belongs in the same sentence with the likes of Kerr, Terry, Sean Elliott, Luke Walton, etc., as a distinguished fan favorite at Arizona.
Before Wednesday’s game, he re-enacted his iconic move of kissing the “A” at midcourt during his Senior Day at McKale Center. That move 10 years ago enhanced his image among Wildcat fans even more.
“Kissing the ‘A’ my senior year was a special moment for me, just to show my appreciation to this university and these fans,” McConnell said. “I wanted to kind of recreate that moment tonight, because it meant a lot to me.”
Williams asked him about how he became a fan favorite along with some Arizona greats.
“Honestly, I just tried to give it my all every game,” McConnell responded. “I feel like people really appreciate that. Just trying to go out there and give this place some energy because it’s a really tough place to play for the opposing team.
“I was just trying to go in there, create a spark and just be myself.”
The fact that the Pacers attended the ceremony rather than wait for him in Phoenix “speaks volumes about the organization that I play for and the teammates that I have,” he said.
‘We’ve got great human beings,” McConnell said. “For them to all come down here and support me, like I said, I can’t put it into words how much it means.”
Williams also asked McConnell about playing for an intense coach like Miller, who hails from Pittsburgh similar to McConnell.
“My relationship with him is like family,” McConnell said. “Coming to this place changed my life, and he’s the reason why. He empowered me to do what I do well and treated me like one of his own kids. That relationship is like family, and it still is to this day.”
FOLLOW @JAVIERJMORALES ON TWITTER!
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator in 2016 and is presently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
Recommended for you
