Two former Arizona Wildcats will play for a chance to reach the NBA Finals beginning this week. Two
The Indiana Pacers’ T.J. McConnell and the Dallas Mavericks’ Josh Green both helped their respective teams reach the NBA conference finals over the weekend.
McConnell, a nine-year veteran now in his fifth year with the Pacers, played a key part in Indiana’s game 7 road victory over New York Sunday in the Eastern Conference semifinals. McConnell played 24 minutes, making 6-8 shots for 12 points while dishing out 7 assists. McConnell’s +21 was tied for highest on the team.
The former Arizona point guard averaged 11.9 points and 6 assists in the conference semifinals. He also came up big in Indiana’s first-round series against Milwaukee, including scoring 20 points in a series-clinching game 6.
ESPN analyst JJ Redick summed up sentiments Arizona fans might feel about McConnell’s NBA success Monday speaking to Richard Jefferson.
“I remember watching his last college game and had started watching Arizona a little bit that year, and I remember him walking off the court and he was emotional. I remember thinking, ‘Man that guy is never going to play in the NBA. He’s never going to have a game as big as that.’
“For me to sit there today and watch a friend, a brother put on that performance in a game 7 in the Garden, to help his team get to the conference finals … his story is incredible.”
Hearing JJ Redick talk about what it was like calling game 7 & watching his best friend TJ McConnell take over the game at MSG is an absolute must listen. Terrific stuff.
It’s nothing we don’t already know, but @TJMcConnell is an absolute winnerpic.twitter.com/eB3iMZv5Jn
— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) May 20, 2024
On the other side of the bracket, Green and the Mavericks advanced to the Western Conference finals by way of dismantling top-seed Oklahoma City.
Green made 10 3-pointers in the series, averaging 6.5 points as well as 1.8 assists.
Former Arizona coach Sean Miller congratulated Green, McConnell and Indiana forward Bennedict Mathurin, who is out with a season-ending shoulder injury.
Congratulations to @JoshBGreen, @TJMcConnell and @BennMathurin on advancing to the Western & Eastern Conference Finals!
— Sean Miller (@CoachMillerXU) May 20, 2024
Another former Wildcat, guard Brandon Williams, is listed on Dallas’ official roster, though he hasn’t played in the postseason.