Phoenix Suns: Draft Workouts Day 9 Recap
T.J. McConnell
This 6’2″, 23-year-old senior point guard from Arizona doesn’t have the elite size, length or athleticism for his game to translate to the next level. But his intelligence on the floor, his leadership qualities, his penchant for avoiding mistakes and his heart have never been in doubt.
McConnell may have a hard time making his NBA dream a reality, but it won’t be for lack of effort. Friday marked McConnell’s eighth audition for an NBA team, with his ninth scheduled for Saturday. He has a workout scheduled in Portland on Jun. 9 and then another on the other side of the country in Chicago the very next day. Then he has four more after that.
McConnell impressed McDonough during his time with the Suns, and it wasn’t just because he tied Tyler Haws’ record in the three-minute run (28 and 3/4 lengths).
T.J. McConnell on tying #Suns record for 3-minute run w/ 28 & 3/4 lengths: “That 3-minute run’s no joke…think for the last 10 I blacked out"
— Valley of the Suns (@ValleyoftheSuns) June 5, 2015
“We tell our guys, ‘All it takes is one team,'” McDonough said. “Not all 30 have to like you or love you or want to draft you, but you have to stand out to one and make a good impression on one coach or one GM and get an opportunity. I think T.J.’s the kind of guy that teams will want to give an opportunity to.”
McConnell shot nearly 50 percent from the field in his final season at Arizona, but his 32.1 three-point percentage will need to improve for him to carve out his niche at the next level.
“I’m just trying to show people that I can shoot the ball,” McConnell said. “I didn’t really have to do that at U of A, I was so worried about getting other people the ball and I know if I make a team, teams will go under [screens] and leave me open, so I have to keep defenses honest and knock down open shots.”
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