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After two strong seasons with the Pacers, T.J. McConnell is staying in Indiana.
The former Arizona Wildcats guard is inking a four-year, $35 million deal with the Pacers, according to Shams Charania of Stadium.
TJ McConnell has agreed to a four-year, $35M deal to return to Indiana, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 2, 2021
McConnell averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game on 56 percent shooting—all career highs—this season. He averaged 26 minutes per game and started in three of the 69 games in which he appeared.
The Pacers went 34-38, finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference. They will be coached by former Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle next season.
McConnell was previously on a two-year, $7 million deal with the Pacers. That was after he spent the first four years of his career with the Philadelphia 76ers after signing as an undrafted free agent.
Assuming McConnell sticks in the league through his new contract, he will be eligible for Arizona’s Ring of Honor as a 10-year NBA veteran.
T.J. McConnell began his college career at Duquesne and went undrafted out of Arizona in 2015, but is now entering his seventh season in the NBA and just signed a four-year, $35 million contract with the Pacers.
— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) August 2, 2021
Good lesson for young athletes to aim high and keep working hard.