T.J. McConnell fits right in as Sixers' point guard
MILWAUKEE - One would assume that T.J. McConnell is making it hard for the 76ers to replace him. The undrafted rookie point guard was only supposed to contribute off the bench until the team's more established point guards got healthy. But McConnell was elevated to starter on Wednesday, right before a 91-87 setback to the Milwaukee Bucks, and he has given the team plenty to think about.
MILWAUKEE - One would assume that T.J. McConnell is making it hard for the 76ers to replace him.
The undrafted rookie point guard was only supposed to contribute off the bench until the team's more established point guards got healthy. But McConnell was elevated to starter on Wednesday, right before a 91-87 setback to the Milwaukee Bucks, and he has given the team plenty to think about.
Does he keep his starting position? Or will he slide to the third spot once Kendall Marshall and Tony Wroten return from rehabilitating right knee injuries?
"The most honest answer I can give is we'll deal with that time when it comes," Sixers coach Brett Brown said Thursday after practice at the Bucks' training center.
"But right now, what you realize is we really tripped on a really good young player," Brown added. "Now, it's early days. But to say that we are not excited from what we've seen so far would be completely not true."
McConnell posted his second consecutive eye-opening 12-assist performance against the Bucks. He finished with seven points, 12 assists, nine rebounds, and a turnover. That came two nights after he had six points, 12 assists, and zero turnovers in a 107-100 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Pittsburgh native joins Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, John Wall and Jose Calderon as the only NBA players with 12 or more assists and one or fewer turnovers in consecutive games this season.
"I can't believe to be in the same sentence as those guys," McConnell said. "It's an honor because they represent what this league is about.
"But I have to thank my teammates. They're the ones making the shots. I'm just getting them the ball."
McConnell heads into Friday's game at Cleveland ranked fifth in the league with 8.0 assists per game.
Despite his success, the former Arizona standout said he isn't focused on whether he keeps the starting spot.
"I'm just going to go out there, keep working hard in practice, and just be the engine that goes for us," he said, "getting people the ball and setting the tone and setting the pace."
Elite company
Rookie center Jahlil Okafor joins LeBron James and Kevin Durant as the only players to score at least 80 points in their team's first four games at age 19 and under. Okafor, 19, leads all rookies in scoring at 20.3 points per game.
The third overall pick out of Duke had a 26 points in the season opener against the Boston Celtics. Then he tallied 10, 24 and 21 points in his next three games.
Canaan moves over
After starting the first three games at point guard, Isaiah Canaan has been switched to reserve shooting guard. Newly acquired Phil Pressey will serve as McConnell's backup.
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