“We all know the McConnells if you’re a basketball fan,” Duquesne coach Dan Burt, who coached TJ McConnell’s sister Megan McConnell, said. She is now headed to Phoenix Mercury for the training camp after getting an invitation from the franchise. TJ himself is doing pretty well in the NBA, as he is in his 10th season in the league. In December last year, he was inducted into the Arizona Ring of Honor for completing those 10 years in the top league.

T.J. McConnell never looked the part in his childhood days. Didn’t look like a high school basketball player, and certainly didn’t look like a future college player, especially one for a major program. An NBA player? Nobody was daring even to fantasize about that, including himself. “I didn’t realize we were recruiting water boys,” one Duquesne fan said after they had recruited TJ. He went on to average 10.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.8 steals on the way to being named 2011 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year. The Pacers guard keeps that sentence in his mind as a motivation to this day. He moved to Arizona after a couple of years.

T.J. McConnell may have gone undrafted out of Arizona, but he bulldozed his way into the league with grit, hustle, and a whole lot of heart. He spent his first four seasons with the Sixers, becoming a fan favorite and a steady spark off the bench, even as the team crawled out of “The Process” and into playoff relevance. In 2019, he took his talents to Indiana, where he’s quietly become a cult hero. Now six seasons deep with the Pacers, McConnell was right in the thick of their 2024 run to the Eastern Conference Finals—diving for loose balls, pestering ball-handlers, and doing all the little things that don’t show up on a stat sheet but win you games.

His aunts, Kathy and Suzie, are basketball legends too. Kathy excelled as a college player and coach, and Suzie is an Olympic gold medalist and a Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Their uncle Tom played two seasons at Davidson (1981-82) and has over 20 years of coaching experience, including seven seasons as head coach at Saint Francis, Pa. It seems that basketball runs in their blood.

Who are TJ McConnell’s parents? What’s their nationality?

TJ’s father, Tim McConnell, was a highly successful high school basketball coach and TJ played under him. One of the most successful coaches the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League has ever seen, T.J. McConnell also helped TJ blossom into the player he is now. Although the one with the basketball acumen is the father, the mother, Shelly McConnell, has also played a huge role behind the scenes, helping raise two basketball lifers with grit, drive, and a love for the game that runs deep. Both of the parents are American by nationality.

Who is TJ McConnell’s father, Timothy? Was he a professional basketball player? 

Before T.J. McConnell was pestering NBA point guards, the coaching grind was already in his blood. His father, Tim McConnell, built a local dynasty in Western PA. He spent 25 years at the helm of the Chartiers Valley boys’ basketball team, piling up a jaw-dropping 552 wins. Then, just to flex a little more, he switched over to coach the Char Valley girls and led them to a blistering 110–7 record over four seasons.

Winning? It runs in the family. After which, he accepted the boys’ basketball head coaching position at Bishop Canevin High School. Tim himself could ball out on the court, as he also had a college career playing at Waynesburg College from 1984 to 1986.

Who is TJ McConnell’s mother, Shelly?

“She doesn’t get any credit when it comes to basketball. It’s always my dad. But my mom has shaped me into the person I am today,” Megan McConnell has said regarding her mother. “She has been there through every challenge in my life, and she is always giving me the best advice.” It’s always the people in the back who don’t get the spotlight but contribute a lot more than most realize.

It’s heartwarming that Megan credited her mother as well. It is unknown whether she worked or was a stay-at-home mom. Shelly, along with Tim, was often at TJ’s school and college games as well, supporting him from the sidelines. They are also present at his NBA games at times.

Does the Pacers star have any siblings?

The Pacers star has two siblings, Matty and  Megan, who both have some experience playing ball as well. His sister is likely going to the WNBA next year.  Megan played at Duquesne University and was named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Watchlist in back-to-back seasons (2023–24, 2024–25). A two-time A-10 All-Conference First Team selection and two-time A-10 All-Defensive Team honoree, she also excelled in the classroom, earning A-10 All-Academic Team honors for three consecutive seasons.

His brother Matty played college ball at Robert Morris, playing 129 games over four years. Being a solid guard, he was a rock for the team throughout his tenure there.