The Los Angeles Lakers’ All-Star combo forward LeBron James recently expressed admiration for one of his co-host JJ Redick’s former teammates from the Philadelphia 76ers, now-Indiana Pacers backup point guard TJ McConnell, on his podcast “Mind The Game.” Despite going undrafted in 2015, McConnell quickly proved himself as a valuable asset during the “Process” era with the 76ers. He shared the court with Redick in Philadelphia from 2017 to 2019 before joining the Pacers in 2019. 

McConnell’s clutch performances have been instrumental for Indiana in the playoffs, averaging 10.8 points, 5.3 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game. Currently in the final year of a reasonable four-year, $33.6 million contract with the Pacers, it’s unlikely he’ll be available for acquisition unless the Lakers offer significant assets, such as future draft picks. However, there’s speculation that he and James could potentially join forces as free agents in 2025.