After seven seasons, shared between Philadelphia and Indiana, during which he participated in several playoff campaigns, TJ McConnell discover the life of a club in reconstruction this season. Even if he is only 30 years old, the substitute leader, survivor with Myles Turner of the major cleaning carried out in recent months in the workforce, is a veteran in this young Pacers squad.
And who says veteran, says mentoring relationship with young people. In his case, it is naturally with Tyrese Haliburton that this relationship has been forged since the arrival of the young leader in Indiana last season.
” I repeat to him: ‘My job is to prepare you as best as possible for the matches’ » says TJ McConnell. ” ‘You are our “franchise player”, and we go as far as you take us.’ So concretely, I try to make him drool in training. ‘Cause he’s so talented, if I wander off for a few minutes, he’s gonna kick my ass. »
Always very professional in his approach, the former Sixers joker therefore makes his personal mission the good development of Tyrese Haliburton, the new face of the club, who in this young season plays the best basketball of his career (21.9 points to 49% at the shots, 4.6 rebounds and 9.4 assists).
” You have to get used to it very quickly, because it never stops, especially when it is the substitutes who win in training. It’s good to keep your feet on the ground appreciated the former darling of Kings fans.
” I just want to make it better, by pushing it to its limits. When you look at his potential, and we all see it, I think I would be doing neither the club nor him a favor if I didn’t give my all in training to help him progress. concludes TJ McConnell.
| Tyrese Haliburton | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2020-21 | BAG | 58 | 30 | 47.2 | 40.9 | 85.7 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 5.3 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 13.0 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 77 | 35 | 47.3 | 41.4 | 84.2 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 8.2 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 15.3 |
| 2021-22 * | BAG | 51 | 34 | 45.7 | 41.3 | 83.7 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 7.4 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 14.3 |
| 2021-22 * | IND | 26 | 36 | 50.2 | 41.6 | 84.9 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 9.6 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 17.5 |
| 2022-23 | IND | 8 | 33 | 48.8 | 44.9 | 94.6 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 9.4 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 21.9 |
| Total | 143 | 33 | 47.4 | 41.4 | 85.9 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 7.1 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 14.8 | |
