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Of all the players to chip in during the Pacers' 2025 playoff run, T.J. McConnell's contributions have seemed to come at the most critical points.
In Thursday's Game 6 of the NBA Finals, the Pacers needed a win to keep their title hopes alive and force Game 7. That's exactly what they did in a 108-91 win over the Thunder — and McConnell, once again, played a significant role in Indiana's success.
From his signature backcourt steals to mid-range buckets and a surprising number of rebounds for a 6-foot-1 guard, McConnell was everywhere for the second consecutive Finals game. Following the huge Pacers win, the face of the team, Tyrese Haliburton, revealed the nickname McConnell earned within the squad: "Great White Hope."
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Here's what to know about McConnell's nickname with the Pacers, plus a look at his key contributions in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
MORE: The key Pacers' bench stats from dominant Game 6 win over Thunder
T.J. Connell 'Great White Hope' nickname, explained
Haliburton, who has been dealing with a calf strain but played through it in Thursday's game, joined ESPN following Indiana's blowout victory over Oklahoma City to force Game 7. When asked about McConnell's contributions to the Pacers in the Finals, Haliburton praised his teammate, then revealed the nickname he's earned in the locker room.
"He's unbelievable, man. He's unbelievable. I don't even have the words," Haliburton said. "He's 'The Great White Hope,' that's what we call him. He's just amazing, continues to get downhill, put pressure on the defense.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 20, 2025That wasn't the first time Haliburton spoke about his nickname for McConnell, as he mentioned it in a June 12 presser during the Finals, as well.
“His energy is unbelievable. He's definitely a crowd favorite. I call him, ‘The Great White Hope.’ He does a great job of bringing energy and people feed off that.”
Tyrese Haliburton on TJ McConnell 😂🔥
McConnell was informed by the NBATV crew postgame that Haliburton shared the team's nickname, giving a laugh before answering a question about his performance in the Finals.
"Honestly, it sounds redundant when I say it, but I'm just trying to do my job," McConnell said. "Come in, inject energy and get our team moving offensively and defensively, and get us out and do what we do best and run."
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 20, 2025T.J. McConnell Finals Game 6 stats
- Minutes: 24
- Points: 12
- Rebounds: 9
- Assists: 6
- Steals: 4
- Blocks: 0
- Turnovers: 3
- Fouls: 2
- FG: 6-12
- 3P: 0-0
- FT: 0-2
For the second-straight Finals game, McConnell provided star-level production off the bench when the Pacers needed it. After 18 points in Game 5, he added 12 in Game 6 on Thursday. He also chipped in nine rebounds and six assists, helping lighten the load on Haliburton, who was playing through an injury. He had one less rebound than Thunder big men Isaiah Hartenstein (4) and Chet Holmgren (6) combined.
Once again, McConnell also got the best of the Thunder defensively on a few occasions. His ability to sneak into the backcourt for easy steals was put to use in Game 6, and he finished with four steals as the Pacers dominated the turnover battle.
In the process, McConnell became the first player to ever post at least 60 points, 25 assists and 15 rebounds off the bench in an NBA Finals in history.
TJ McConnell is the first bench player in NBA history with
60+ points
25+ assists
15+ rebounds
in an NBA Finals. pic.twitter.com/Tpwvz1vPLq
T.J. McConnell Finals Game 6 highlights
McConnell played a big role in Indiana's second-quarter dominance in Game 6, first putting some moves on Kenrich Williams, then doing the same to Cason Wallace for two mid-range jumpers.
— NBA (@NBA) June 20, 2025As he has been all series, McConnell was then diving for loose balls and steals, powering Indiana's 21 total forced turnovers in the game.
T.J. GETTING IT DONE ON BOTH ENDS 💪😤 https://t.co/qNGhQKYb7Z pic.twitter.com/OJhXmMcDmv
— NBA (@NBA) June 20, 2025It was a little bit of everything for McConnell in Game 6, from spin moves into layups, to key double-teams and backcourt steals defensively.
take a look at his night ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/PshRPYDaBg
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 20, 2025T.J. McConnell Finals stats vs. Thunder
Here's a look at McConnell's NBA Finals averages as a whole through six games:
- Minutes per game: 19.0
- Points per game: 11.3
- Rebounds per game: 3.2
- Assists per game: 4.5
- Steals per game: 2.3
- Blocks per game: 0.0
- FG%: 53.7%
- 3P%: 60.0%
- FT%: 77.8%
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