Chartiers Valley High School grad T.J. McConnell just signed a four-year contract with the Indiana Pacers. It’s worth $35.2 million.
McConnell could buy Heidelberg and declare himself king.
McConnell is definitely Pittsburgh’s highest-paid basketball player ever.
He’s also arguably Pittsburgh’s best basketball player ever.
Depends how closely you link Pete Maravich to Aliquippa. The pro and college basketball Hall-0f-Famer was born there, but played high school hoops in South Carolina. Maurice Lucas (Schenley High School, four-time NBA All-Star) merits strong consideration, too.
But McConnell is amazing by a standard seldom seen in basketball today. His highlight reel is full of steals, assists, defense and team play, not dunks and three-pointers. McConnell provides a whole different kind of spectacular. (See below.)
McConnell averaged 6.6 assists, 1.9 steals and 8.6 points per game with the Pacers this past season, all career highs. He played 26 minutes per. That’s how you get paid.
It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, either. Class act.
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