T.J. McConnell ☆ Follow

• Bluesky @tonyreast.bsky.social · Report · 35 h ago

  T.J. McConnell remains out tomorrow in Brooklyn, Pacers reveal on injury report. Ben Sheppard, with a tear in his meniscus, is also out. Aaron Nesmith is probable.

  original post ↗

  also reported by Tony East, Locked On Pacers

• ESPN ESPN · Report · 35 h ago

  McConnell (hamstring) is out for Sunday's game against the Nets.

  source ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pacers · 2 points · Oct 23
  • T.J. McConnell did not play in the opener; the host does not give a specific reason for him. at 8:05
  • Host analysis: the biggest visible growth from last season is that Nembhard seems to have taken a step forward as a playmaker. That can take some burden off McConnell and means Siakam doesn't always have to keep the bench afloat. at 8:44

  “Deeper dive into Indiana Pacers season opening win: What went right and what needs to be better?” · listen ↗

• Podcast Zach Lowe, The Zach Lowe Show · Report · Oct 22 around the league

  Tyrese Haliburton is back. The Pacers won at New Orleans without TJ McConnell and Aaron Nesmith; no reasons were given.

  “Opening Night Overreactions, Alarming Trends, Hot Takes, and More!” at 1:15:44 · listen ↗

• X Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) · Report · Oct 20

  Pacers rule out Aaron Nesmith and T.J. McConnell for the opener Wednesday in New Orleans, both due to hamstring strains.

  original post ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pacers · 4 points · Oct 22
  • Aaron Nesmith and T.J. McConnell did not play. No reason is given here. at 4:05
  • Quenton Jackson took McConnell's minutes. The host says he was poor in the first half and very good in the third and fourth quarters, especially on defense and with his transition decisions. at 8:19
  • Andrew Nembhard had 9 assists, and the minutes he ran the offense without Haliburton went well. The host calls his growth as a point guard the biggest gain from last season, which matters more with McConnell out. at 30:01
  • A host says that if McConnell is not available the roster has no real third point guard, and both hosts agree the team lacked a third ball-handler behind Nembhard. at 29:46

  “Tyrese Haliburton is back: Over-reactions to Indiana Pacers opening night win vs New Orleans Pelicans” · listen ↗

• ESPN ESPN · Report · Oct 21

  McConnell won't play Wednesday in New Orleans due to a right hamstring strain.

  source ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pacers · 2 points · Oct 21
  • Pacers injury report (reported): T.J. McConnell is out for tonight's regular-season opener, according to the injury report released earlier today. at 2:09
  • Tony East: Tony wonders whether the Nembhard solo-point-guard lineups become a mainstay or are only a temporary fix while McConnell is out. at 26:22

  “Indiana Pacers 2026-27 season preview: Can tweaks + Tyrese Haliburton get Pacers back to contention?” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pacers · 4 points · Oct 20
  • The host lists players who will not be extension-eligible during the season: Jarace Walker, Ben Sheppard, Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Obi Toppin, T.J. McConnell, Ivica Zubac and Andrew Nembhard. at 1:51
  • The host says T.J. McConnell was hurt during the preseason, so the bench looked different. at 3:27
  • JJ says McConnell's status is something to monitor at the start of the season, which implies he isn't back yet. He calls McConnell 'kind of like Tyrese' in that his minutes per game are a question even when healthy. at 31:49
  • JJ says Siakam anchoring second units is how the Pacers have to operate, at least early in the season, especially before McConnell is healthy. at 32:47

  “What Indiana Pacers revealed in the preseason that will matter once the regular season begins” · listen ↗

• Podcast Zach Lowe, The Zach Lowe Show · Prediction · Oct 19 around the league

  Zach's Finals pick: Thunder over Knicks, with OKC repeating... as champion. He considered the Sixers (Embiid's playoff availability unknowable) and the Pacers (doubts about McConnell, who took a step back, and Nembhard/Nesmith vs. Knicks wings).

  “Knicks Preview, Playoff Picks, Finals Predictions, and More!” at 1:12:17 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pacers · 2 points · Oct 19
  • Tony East: T.J. McConnell technically has three years left on what became a five-year deal, with a team option on the final year. The host sees zero reason to extend him. at 17:32
  • Tony East: In preseason, T.J. McConnell, Aaron Nesmith and Jarace Walker missed time, and Andrew Nembhard missed a game. No reasons are given beyond the host framing them under injuries. at 24:08

  “Why Indiana Pacers waived James Johnson, Rienk Mast, Keba Keita + extensions and preseason challenges” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pacers host · Report · Oct 17

  The host notes he has not seen T.J. McConnell ("not seeing McConnell"). No reason is given.

  “Why the Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Ivica Zubac trio connected vs Milwaukee Bucks in OT loss” at 15:46 · listen ↗

• ESPN ESPN · Report · Oct 16

  McConnell (undisclosed) is out for Friday's preseason game against the Bucks, Tony East of Forbes.com reports.

  source ↗

• Podcast NBA GMs (reported), via Locked On Pacers · Relayed report · Oct 16

  For 'which active player will make the best head coach someday', T.J. McConnell placed 2nd with 13%, behind Mike Conley. Andrew Nembhard got a vote, which Tony believes is new this year.

  “What NBA GMs got right, and wrong, about the Indiana Pacers + impact of Jarace Walker's preseason” at 8:04 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pacers host · Report · Oct 14

  Nesmith, Nembhard, Jarace Walker and T.J. McConnell did not play. The host says 'there were some injuries' but does not say which player had which issue.

  “Tyrese Haliburton shines, Ivica Zubac posts double-double: What key Pacers showed in loss vs Thunder” at 14:01 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pacers · 8 points · Oct 13
  • Tony East: T.J. McConnell has not played in either preseason game. East says a physical issue came up and McConnell hasn't done anything yet. No details were given. at 2:44
  • Tony East: East speculates that McConnell's injury may be why Jay Huff is not playing. The lineups so far have not used Huff at center. at 3:11
  • Tony East: East says Sheppard, McConnell and Toppin have been the core of the Pacers' bench in their recent playoff runs, and McConnell has not yet played with the other two this preseason. at 3:36
  • Tony East: East thinks the bench has answered the summer's shot-creation question with a yes, even without McConnell. He also notes that Siakam plays with the bench in every half of every game. at 5:32
  • Tony East: East's opinion: there's no reason McConnell needs to be overloaded with bench shot creation this season. He questions whether Walker's level of play will hold up into the season. at 6:40
  • Tony East: East expects McConnell and Ivica Zubac to share the floor at times, though not often. He wants to see what chemistry they can build. at 8:05
  • Tony East: East's open question on McConnell: his stats were good last year, but there were some warning signs. Can he hold off decline for one more year? East says McConnell's contract means the Pacers need that. at 8:43
  • Tony East: Background: McConnell was also hurt last year, in the second quarter of the first preseason game. East says this absence is not a concern and that the Pacers know McConnell well. at 8:57

  “What Indiana Pacers have missed without T.J. McConnell so far + closer looks at Siakam, Sheppard, Toppin” · listen ↗

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