Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has seen and played against all types of players during his incredibly long run in the NBA, so when he speaks about someone who stands out from his perspective, that player must be a really good one.
People can guess who makes the list of the four-time league Most Valuable Player’s favorite players right now, and many will likely miss the name of one guard LeBron mentioned during a recent episode of the Mind the Game Pod w/ LeBron James and JJ Redick.
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James Mentions Under-the-Radar Player as Favorite
In the said podcast, the Lakers forward specifically mentioned Indiana Pacers guard TJ McConnell as personal favorite.
(h/t Tony East of All Pacers)
“One of my favorite players in the NBA right now is T.J. McConnell,” James said as the opening line to this week’s episode of his new podcast. “T.J. McConnell… he’s like Draymond [Green] as a point guard.”
There is a reason why the Pacers love McConnell, as evidenced by the fact that they signed him top a four-year deal worth $33.6 million in 2021 two years after they inked him to a two-year deal worth $7 million. Although the former Arizona Wildcats point guard doesn’t have a flashy style of play nor is an athletically gifted player, McConnell just seems to always do the right thing whenever he’s inserted into the game.
McConnell, who just turned 32 last March, is averaging a career-high 10.1 points in the 2023-24 NBA season and has seemingly stepped it up for late, as he’s put up 14.4 points on 56.8 percent shooting from the field with 6.1 assists in the last 10 Indiana games.
McConnell had a great reaction as well when he heard of LeBron’s praise.
“I saw it. Obviously very humbling,” McConnell said Thursday after a Pacers practice of LeBron’s comments. “Him noticing what we’re doing here. All of it wouldn’t be possible without my teammates.”
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