We don't know if the NBA will consider this compliment as “tampering”, but LeBron James took advantage of his podcast with JJ Redick to say all the good things he thinks of TJ McConnell. Tyrese Haliburton's understudy, the former Sixers point guard is one of the best replacements in the NBA, and he has the ability to be as effective off the bench as he is as a starter. For around twenty matches, he has perhaps been playing the best basketball of his career with an average of 14 points and 5 assists. He will also finish the season with his best career average. At 32!
“Currently, one of the best favorite players in the NBA is TJ McConnell” admits LeBron. “TJ McConnell is the equivalent of Draymond Green at the point guard position.” JJ Redick does not respond to this comparison, but he places McConnell among the players capable of changing the course of a match. “There are players who can come on and that changes the course of a match. Payton Pritchard is like that. Ish Smith is like that.”
Tyrese Haliburton obviously validates the compliment
These compliments have obviously reached McConnell's ears, and he is touched by this recognition. “I’ve seen it, and it’s obviously very gratifying. Let him underline what I'm doing here… But all this wouldn't be possible without my teammates.”
Precisely, among his teammates, there is Tyrese Haliburton, best passer in the NBA, and perhaps best leader in the Eastern Conference. Opponent of the Lakers in the final of the NBA tournament, Haliburton also saw the sequence of LeBron James.
“It’s really cool, and it’s hard not to love TJ’s game. Especially considering what he's been doing these last two months, what he's been doing. He is incredible. He's one of, if not the best, backup point guards in the league. I'm very grateful to be able to count on him on the nights I'm not playing, grateful to have a guy I can play with too. »
