The biggest story in the NBA this postseason was the surprising run of the Indiana Pacers. Their march to Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals was led by Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, while fellow starters Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, and Myles Turner made significant contributions.
However, it was two Pacers bench players, Obi Toppin and T.J. McConnell, who drove Indiana’s second unit and helped spark many of their postseason comebacks. McConnell, in particular, provided a much-needed spark as a primary ball handler throughout the playoffs, especially in the Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
His performance drew comparisons to another backup point guard who helped lead his team to a championship back in 2011.
McConnell’s Finals Run Mirrors 2011 Mavericks Hero J.J. Barea
The veteran guard stuffed the stat sheet consistently. In the Pacers’ 108-91 Game 6 victory that forced a decisive Game 7, McConnell finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and four steals.
In the postseason, he averaged 9.2 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game while shooting 53.1% from the field, 81.5% from the free-throw line, and 42.1% from beyond the arc, all improvements from his regular season numbers (51.9% FG, 74.0% FT, 30.6% 3PT). He averaged 11.3 points per game in the Finals.
The Dallas Mavericks were the first team to face the “Heatles,” the Miami Heat trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, in the 2011 NBA Finals. Despite being heavy underdogs, the Mavericks stunned the Heat in six games to capture their first NBA championship.
One of the surprise heroes of that series was reserve point guard J.J. Barea. Now, many observers are comparing McConnell’s current Finals run to what Barea accomplished 14 years ago.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, who coached that 2011 Mavericks championship team, was asked about the comparison between his current backup point guard and his former Finals hero.
Rick Carlisle when asked how important T.J. McConnell is and if he sees similarities between him and 2011 champion Mavs guard JJ Barea:
“Very important and I do see similarities”
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) June 21, 2025
“Very important and I do see similarities,” Carlisle said.
Barea averaged 8.8 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game during that 2011 postseason. He broke out in the final two games of the series, scoring 17 points with five assists in Game 5, and adding 15 points and five more assists in the series-clinching Game 6.
Injury Derails Pacers’ Championship Dreams
The Finals ultimately ended in heartbreak for the Pacers after Game 7 concluded with a 103-91 loss to the Thunder. Haliburton suffered a devastating torn Achilles injury in the first quarter of the decisive game, effectively ending Indiana’s championship hopes.
The All-Star guard was playing through a calf strain he had sustained in Game 5 and was having an excellent start to Game 7 before the injury occurred.
McConnell came off the bench to record 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists in the season-ending loss, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the loss of their floor general. The Thunder captured their first NBA championship since relocating to Oklahoma City, with Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way.
Despite the disappointing conclusion, McConnell’s playoff performance solidified his reputation as one of the league’s most reliable sixth men and earned him legitimate comparisons to one of the most unlikely championship heroes in recent NBA history.
