Pacers sign guard TJ McConnell to four-year, $45 million contract extension

The Indiana Pacers reached last season’s NBA Eastern Conference finals in large part because of their deep roster, which included strong performances from reserves like TJ McConnell.

McConnell, 32, was rewarded for his performance with a four-year, $45 million contract extension, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports. The 10-year veteran had one season left on his current deal but is now signed through the 2028-29 campaign.

Last season, McConnell averaged a career-high 10.2 points per game with 5.5 assists while shooting 41 percent on 3-pointers. He upped that production to 11.8 points during the postseason, playing crucial man-to-man defense against New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson as the Pacers tried to ease the load on Tyrese Haliburton.

McConnell is entering his 10th NBA season, the last five with the Pacers. He played his first four years in the league with the Philadelphia 76ers as an undrafted free agent out of Arizona. For his career, McConnell has averaged 7.5 points and 5.1 assists per game on a 35% 3-point shooting percentage.

Signing McConnell to a long-term deal is the latest move by the Pacers to keep a strong core together. During this offseason, Indiana also re-signed Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin while extending Andrew Nembhard, who also became a crucial backcourt player for the Pacers’ postseason run.

Indiana finished sixth in the East, tied with the Orlando Magic and Sixers with a 47–35 record, and reached the finals of the in-season tournament. The Pacers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks and Knicks in the playoffs before being swept by the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics.