The McConnells are one of the most robust and talented basketball families in the country. It all started when Megan McConnell’s grandparents met in a Pittsburgh gym in 1955. Tom McConnell saw Sue McGrady playing six-on-six basketball and convinced her to date him. From there the family has come a long way, carrying on that basketball tradition. Now the youngest McConnell has entered the pro scene as Megan debuted for the Phoenix Mercury after signing a full-season contract. Although she wasn’t selected in Monday’s WNBA Draft, she was called up by the Mercury for the training camp where she impressed and earned a spot on their roster. 

Megan played for Duquesne University, in their hometown of Pittsburgh, for five years. She was named the 2025 Atlantic 10 defensive player of the year and is a two-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team member. She is the school’s second all-time leading scorer. Her brother might one-up her soon, as TJ McConnell is set to participate in the 2025 NBA Finals. Let’s find out who Megan’s brother is, who has played in the NBA for 10 years.

Who Is TJ McConnell?

T.J. McConnell is a point guard for the Indiana Pacers, who are set to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA finals. Just like his sister, TJ played for the Duquesne Dukes before transferring to Arizona in 2012 to play for the Wildcats. 

TJ McConnell: A Historic High School Career

He had long shown glimpses of his potential, and perhaps his family always knew that T.J. McConnell was destined for something special, starting with his high school dominance at Chartiers Valley High School in the Pittsburgh-area borough of Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. As a senior in 2009–10, he put together one of the most remarkable seasons in over a century of WPIAL basketball, setting a league record with 1,062 points, a mark previously matched only by University of Pittsburgh Hall of Famer Don Hennon in 1955.

Coached by his father, T.J. averaged an astounding 34 points per game, the second-highest in the WPIAL over the past 45 years. He won 101 games during his high school career, finishing as the WPIAL’s fifth all-time leading scorer with 2,404 points and second in career three-pointers with 334.

As team captain his senior year, McConnell elevated his game even further, posting averages of 34.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game. He earned first-team all-state honors, was named the Associated Press Pennsylvania Class 3A Player of the Year, and was crowned the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Male Athlete of the Year across all sports. That season, he led Chartiers Valley to a 29–2 record, capturing the WPIAL title and making it to the Class 3A state championship game, where they ultimately fell to powerhouse Neumann-Goretti High School from Philadelphia.

“Anyone who watches this young man play basketball can easily see he is a special talent. His small stature makes his impact on a game even more impressive.” ESPN wrote in their scouting report. Despite his exploits, he was not heavily recruited coming out of high school. Most major Division I programs overlooked him, likely due to his size (around 6 feet) and unflashy athletic profile. Duquesne took a shot at him and it reaped them rewards. 

Undrafted to Unstoppable: How T.J. McConnell Became an NBA Mainstay from a Basketball Family

T.J. McConnell stayed close to home for college, playing his first two seasons at Duquesne University. There, he averaged 11.1 points, 4.4 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. His standout freshman year earned him the 2011 Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Year award and a spot on the A-10 All-Defensive Team, achievements that paved the way for his transfer to the University of Arizona.

In 2013–14, McConnell played a crucial role in helping Arizona start the season 21–0. The Wildcats made a deep run in the NCAA Tournament that year, falling just short in the Elite Eight. As a senior in 2014–15, he was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team and the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team, leading the conference in both assists per game and total assists. He once again guided Arizona to the Elite Eight, cementing his legacy as one of the program’s most impactful point guards. On December 18, 2024, McConnell was honored as the 34th Arizona Wildcat inducted into the prestigious Arizona Basketball Ring of Honor.

Despite his impressive college career, TJ went undrafted in the 2015 NBA draft, and McConnell joined his home state team, the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2015 NBA Summer League. He signed for the team in September. He played well during preseason, averaging 6.2 points and 4.8 assists in five games, earning himself a spot on the 76ers’ opening night roster. He played for the Sixers for four seasons while averaging 6.4 points and 4.7 assists for them. 

He went on to sign a two-year deal worth $7 million with the Indiana Pacers. Since then he has been a mainstay for them. During his career, McConnell has appeared in 706 regular-season games with averages of 7.6 points, 5.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game, shooting 51.6% from the field and 77.8% from the free-throw line.

T.J. McConnell has come a long way from his roots in Pittsburgh. Once an overlooked recruit and undrafted NBA hopeful, he has carved out a decade-long career through grit, intelligence, and relentless hustle. Now, in his 10th NBA season, McConnell has become a vital piece of the Indiana Pacers’ rotation, bringing veteran leadership and steady playmaking off the bench. His impact has helped propel the Pacers to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, as they now stand on the doorstep of history, chasing the franchise’s first-ever championship. Meanwhile, his sister is also kickstarting her WNBA career with the Phoenix Mercury. She will hope to have a career like her brother and she will definitely take some tips from the NBA veteran.