CHICAGO — This was T.J. McConnell’s week, as he knew it until 8 p.m. Monday night:
Sociology final. Economics final. Accounting final. And, if all went well, a degree.
Then his agent phoned.
“He said, ‘Pack your bag,’” McConnell said Thursday. “I said, ‘For what? I have a final tomorrow.’ He said, ‘Chicago.’ Then I was like, ‘OK, screw the final.’”
Final vs. Job Opportunity of a Lifetime. No contest.
McConnell boarded a flight to Chicago less than 12 hours later, then found his instructors graciously allowed makeups next week.
Three days later at the NBA combine, McConnell’s head was still spinning, even if he didn’t play like it. During a five-on-five game, McConnell did what he did for two seasons with the Arizona Wildcats, running a talented offense with five assists to just one turnover while grabbing two steals.
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It was only when he took his eyes off the floor that he was prone to dizziness.
“It’s just weird,” McConnell said. “You look up in the crowd and see Pat Riley, Larry Bird. Instead of seeing fans, you’re seeing NBA execs and legends.”
Looking at himself felt kind of weird, too. At least if he considered himself the once-scrawny Pittsburgh grinder who started his college career at mid-level Duquesne, not the arguably most valuable player of the Pac-12 champion.
“If you told me before I started college that I would have played in the NBA combine, I would have laughed in your face,” McConnell said. “It’s kind of surreal to me. I’m blessed to be here. And that’s why I’m working as hard as I can. I know so many other players want to be in my position, and I’m not gonna let the opportunity slip.”
In typical McConnell style, he was hard on himself after the five-on-five. McConnell said only that he played “decent,” while collecting five assists, one turnover, two steals and no points in 19 minutes. He beat himself up for missing a pair of free throws and a long jumper.
That was his side of the story. Here’s what Draft Express’ Mike Schmitz tweeted during the first half:
“T.J. McConnell with at least five assists so far. Transition lob, two pocket passes, a pass ahead in transition. Running the show.”
ESPN radio host Ryen Russillo put it this way: “Don’t like tweeting stuff during combine because not sure it means anything, but T.J. McConnell is so fun to watch.”
Seriously, underneath, there are signs McConnell believes he can really be that guy, a legit NBA prospect. He’s not projected on just about anybody’s draft board but the fact that he worked out for the famously out-of-the-box San Antonio Spurs last week, and received the NBA combine invitation this week, means he has a shot to be that guy.
“It’s hit me a little bit talking to family and friends,” McConnell said. “I’m just out there to play hard and do what a team or coach wants me to do. If a team likes that, I’d be very happy to play for any of them.”
The combine’s five-on-five games can help his case. McConnell said he knows he needs to shoot better, to knock down open looks when defenses dare him, a concept that was drummed into him during his two-year UA career.
But, as McConnell showed Thursday, the chance to run a team, more so than any individual drill or test, is what may help the most.
“I’m not gonna be a guy who has a 45-inch vertical or does all that other stuff,” McConnell said. “But I’m a team player and I love being a team player. Being a five-on-five player really helped me get an invite here.”
It put him on that plane to Chicago, where former UA teammates Stanley Johnson, Brandon Ashley and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson were already headed.
“It was a relief to have him here,” Hollis-Jefferson said. “Love T.J. That’s my brother. It’s exciting to have him here.”
