T.J. McConnell Was The Ultimate Try Hard Last Night

Yes, the title is true; we legally cannot lie to you. We are partnered with DraftKings to bring you this incredible new user offer that ends very soon!

Claim this offer using DraftKings:

  1. Sign up for DraftKings by clicking here
  2. Deposit $5 or more into your account
  3. Finally, place a $5 moneyline bet & get $150 in bonus bets ! (New users only)
Note* Want to bet on another game/sport? No problem – you’ll still get your $150 in bonus bets!*
Indiana Pacers' T.J. McConnell, left, and Cleveland Cavaliers' Collin Sexton reach for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 3, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Everybody knows the one kid who in rec sports or gym class is the ultimate try-hard. They’re diving for loose balls, smacking people in the head for rebounds, and treating a random pickup game like it’s a game 7. This was TJ last night as he recorded a rare triple-double as he went 16 points on a perfect 8/8 from the field, 13 assists, and had 10 steals, a franchise record for the Pacers. The Pacers won that game 114-111 against the Cleveland Cavs. Tj is a player that you love to hate. You love his grit and grind, but if it’s against your team, you hate him.

There’s always a couple of players who are grinders. Before TJ, it was Matthew Dellavedova. Everybody remembers him during the finals of 2015. Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving were both hurts for the final, so LeBron and Delly were against the world. During game 3 of the 2015 finals, Dellavedoa played so hard that he was hospitalized. He was so exhausted and dehydrated that he had to be taken by an ambulance to be treated. He was back in game 4, giving the same effort and being a pain in the ass to the Warriors guards.

The 6th man of the year award is pretty much locked up with Jordan Clarkson, but it would be fun to have TJ’s name thrown around. If he can constantly have these offensive numbers to go along with his tremendous defense, maybe he could get some 6th man votes. Surprisingly it won’t be a Clipper who will win this award. For the longest time, from Jamal Crawford to Lou Williams to Montrezl Harrell, this was an award that was almost guaranteed to go a Clippers player.

21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. T&Cs apply.

Back to Top