TJ McConnell helped lift the Indiana Pacers to a win in Game 6 of the NBA Finals with another strong performance off the bench on Thursday night, and that led to the unveiling of the incredible nickname his teammates have for him.
McConnell finished with 12 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals in the Pacers’ 108-91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. The role the point guard has played in the series has not gone unnoticed by his teammates.
After Indiana forced Game 7, Tyrese Haliburton gushed about the “unbelievable” impact McConnell has had on the team. Haliburton also revealed that the Pacers have an awesome nickname for the veteran.
“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.”
"He's the Great White Hope"
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) June 20, 2025
Tyrese Haliburton on TJ McConnell pic.twitter.com/9LP824JfM9
Thursday night was McConnell’s best game of the NBA Finals overall, and it could not have come at a better time. He also scored 18 points in just 22 minutes in the Pacers’ loss in Game 5.
McConnell is now the first bench player in NBA history with 60-plus points, 25-plus assists and 15-plus rebounds in an NBA Finals.
TJ McConnell is the first bench player in NBA history with
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 20, 2025
60+ points
25+ assists
15+ rebounds
in an NBA Finals. pic.twitter.com/Tpwvz1vPLq
With Haliburton battling through a significant injury, the Pacers need the Great White Hope more than ever. Indiana will be a huge underdog again in Game 7, but that is a position they have been in for much of the year. That should only fuel McConnell and the Pacers further.
