In a series already being hailed as one of the greatest since the 2016 Cavaliers-Warriors saga, the 2025 NBA Finals had it all—comebacks, injuries, and a Game 7 showdown for the ages. With both franchises chasing their first title in decades, the MVP conversation wasn’t just about glory—it was about legacy. Usually, that accolade goes to the winning team’s biggest superstar, which in this case would either be Tyrese Haliburton or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. But Haliburton’s tragic Achilles injury has seemingly changed everything, as Stephen A. Smith revealed his dark horse for the prestigious trophy.

Haliburton’s exit didn’t just shake the Pacers’ game plan—it broke their spirit. As he was helped off, a stunned Indiana bench had to reimagine their fight for a championship without their floor general. And who did they turn to for help? None other than T. J. McConnell.

And the ‘Great White Hope’ delivered. While many had counted the Indiana team out, T.J. scored 12 quick third-quarter points to keep them in the game. Through the first three quarters, the veteran guard had accumulated 16 points and three assists. His incredible cameo won Stephen A.’s heart.

“I can’t believe what I’m seeing. I still have @okcthunder winning this game, but if it doesn’t happy, I’m damn-near on the verge of picking @TJMcConnell as my Finals MVP,” the ESPN analyst tweeted. Yes, Smith claimed that he would consider giving his MVP vote to McConnell instead of Tyrese or SGA if he is able to lead the Pacers to their first title tonight.

While a role player bagging the biggest individual accolade might sound insane in theory, T.J. has been elite throughout these Finals. He became the first bench player in NBA history to post 60+ points, 25+ assists, and 15+ rebounds in a Finals series—a stat line never before achieved by a non-starter. And it wasn’t just volume—it was efficiency.

Across 22 playoff games, McConnell averaged 9.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in just 17 minutes per game, shooting 53.1% from the field and 42.1% from three. Even in Game 6, the Pacers’ veteran spark plug had as many assists (6) through three quarters as the entire Oklahoma City Thunder team. For a player once considered just a scrappy backup, McConnell’s postseason has rewritten that narrative completely. So, his bagging Finals MVP if Indiana wins does not seem like a far-fetched idea.

Unfortunately, that is unlikely to happen now.

Thunder shut down T. J. McConnell after surprise cameo to win first NBA title

Soon after McConnell started going off on offense, Mark Daigneault realized that he needed to make some adjustments to halt his momentum. I mean, the Thunder coach did tip his hat to TJ’s impact as well as the bench’s potential in Game 3: “McConnell did a great job. Their bench really came in the game and was excellent.”

As such, he knew immediate action was needed. Coach Daigneault began blitzing the veteran point guard, adding more pressure and forcing multiple turnovers. OKC’s elite defenders, including Lu Dort and Alex Caruso, constantly hounded T.J. following his sixteen-point outburst. As expected, the adjustment worked.

McConnell went scoreless in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the OKC Thunder also shut down other Pacers players and extended their lead to double digits. They eventually ended up blowing the Indiana team out by twelve points, winning their first title in franchise history. Obviously, Shai led the charge with his 29-point double-double.

So, even though Stephen A. seemingly had other plans, it looks like SGA’s MVP bid will remain strong.