It’s not always easy to accept the “I could’ve won the title” mentality. In fact, in most cases, losing a championship brings tears,  emotional meltdowns, and a lot of self-doubts. Walking out of the Paycom Center, TJ McConnell felt the harsh reality of “I could be.” He sat on the sideline, in tears, didn’t even care to hide them at one point. And while walking through the tunnel, with the media behind him, the 33-year-old veteran guard broke down.

But then, a pair of hands came to his rescue. A blonde woman, who hugged the Indiana Pacers star, tried her best to keep the cameraperson at bay. Was it his mum, turning on the protective mode for a devastated son? The simple answer is:

“That’s not my mom.” TJ McConnell finally crashed the myth on The Players’ Tribune. McConnell left every ounce of himself on that hardwood in Game 7, but fate had other plans. As heartbreak hit, tears flowed. And just when the tunnel became his one escape, in stormed a cameraman hungry for the shot. But ‘Mama McConnell’ spun around like a storm with purpose. Fierce and fiery, she threw her arm out and roared, “Stop. Stop! Take it off!” Speaking of the moment, the guard shared the real identity of the person in question.

“I’m crying my eyes out as I’m walking off the court, and one of the TV camera guys is following me through the tunnel. And you can see this woman just kind of notice the camera guy — immediately block him from me — and then motion at him like, SIR. SIR, DO NOT TAKE ANOTHER STEP. LEAVE T.J. ALONE,” he shared. “I think it must have been the way she seemed so protective of me … but people assumed it was my mom. So then, of course, the clip got shared all over social media, with millions of views and these captions like, “T.J. MCCONNELL’S MOM DOES NOT PLAY.” Yeah. Lol. Not my mom.”

Then who is it? “Karen Atkeson — our VP of Player Relations with the Pacers.” The Pacers star then continued, “I’ve developed a great relationship with Karen over the six seasons I’ve been here. And I think she saw I was in tears, saw how raw my emotions were, so she gave me this big hug and tried talking me through it. And then when the TV camera started following me, she just reacted out of support.”

The cameras were rolling, alright. Pain, pride, and privacy collided in the tunnel as McConnell’s heartbreak was met with an uninvited lens. Karen Atkeson, fierce as a lioness, shut it down with a voice that echoed louder than any buzzer. Meanwhile, chaos broke out online when fans began calling out the media.

Fans rallied behind McConnell, torched ESPN, and called out the intrusion for what it was—tasteless. A few stood with the crew, but the crowd knew better. Through it all, TJ McConnell rose. A warrior draped in sweat, soul, and grit. He carried Indiana through fire. Though the Thunder roared louder, a hero was born in the storm. And maybe, just maybe, the world started watching differently.

Well, the 2025 NBA Finals were a “History repeats itself” moment for the Pacers, who once again came up short against their rivals. This time, it was the Oklahoma City Thunder who simply exploited Indiana amid their shattered state due to Tyrese Haliburton’s ACL heartbreak. And yes, Reggie Miller, who knows exactly what it feels like, went ahead to console McConnell.

Reggie Miller hugged the devastated TJ McConnell

Tears marked every step through that tunnel, but McConnell kept walking. Karen Atkeson’s hug lingered, but pain stayed close. Then came Reggie Miller with a hug and no words between two hearts that knew the sting of Finals heartbreak. One man had lived it 25 years ago. The other had just carved his name beside him with blood, sweat, and belief.

Well, TJ McConnell ruled the third quarter as if he were on a solo mission with no backups. Then Mathurin stepped in with fourth-quarter swagger and sharp aim. Together, the bench duo dragged the Indiana Pacers‘ dreams on their shoulders. McConnell dropped 16 with grit and guts. Mathurin countered with 24 and a monster 13 boards. Legends were born, even in the shadow of defeat.

Still, the clock played cruel. Injuries poked holes, ball movement stalled, and whistles raised brows. The Thunder pounced on every crack and sealed the deal 103-91. But under all that smoke and scoreboard pain, something else began to rise. Something that just might be Indiana’s fiercest future yet.

Sometimes, legends are made in loss, not banners. McConnell wept, rose, and unknowingly sparked a myth that melted the internet. A mother? No. A warrior in Karen Atkeson’s suit. Add Reggie’s hug, Mathurin’s fire, and the roar of a broken dream—Indiana lived a heartbreak worth remembering. And somehow, from all that ash, a scarred but dangerous future now quietly breathes.