TJ McConnell has made his pick on the toughest NBA player he has had to guard.
The 10-year NBA veteran began his career with the Philadelphia 76ers and is currently on the Indiana Pacers roster.
He was an integral part of the Pacers team that played Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the OKC Thunder.
Alongside his offensive talent, TJ McConnell is a handy defender, who makes it tough for point guards to make plays.
McConnell has gone up against some of the best guards in the NBA, but he has broken the silence on who among them was the toughest player for him to guard.
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesMcConnell reveals Kyrie Irving as his toughest matchup
McConnell has come off the bench for the majority of his career, but played some valuable minutes in big games for his team.
He often matches up against the opposition team’s point guard, but that has never fazed McConnell.
His scoring off the bench is elite, but he also brings energy on the defensive end, which makes things difficult for opposing players.
However, when asked who his toughest assignment was, McConnell named Kyrie Irving as his pick.
“Who’s the hardest guy I’ve had to guard? Kyrie Irving.
“The ball’s on a string. You’re on an island, and you just don’t know what he’s gonna do. You could force him one way, but he still ends up getting the way you don’t want him,” said McConnell on The Christian Kuntz podcast.
“His handle is impeccable. It’s impeccable. He’s got the greatest handle I’ve seen.
“He could really shoot it like, he’s fast, it’s just, it’s a tough place to be mentally when you’re when you’re guarding Kyrie,” McConnell added.
Kyrie Irving will be key to Dallas Mavericks’ championship hopes
Last season was a tough ride for the Dallas Mavericks fans as they saw their star player Luka Doncic get traded to the LA Lakers.
This was followed by injuries to Irving and Anthony Davis, which led to the team missing out on the playoffs entirely.
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images
After a bad regular season, the Mavs found some form of joy when they got a chance to pick Cooper Flagg with the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The addition of Flagg, alongside Klay Thompson and Davis, certainly gives the franchise a lot of hope, but Irving is a player they would need in order to compete for a championship.
His ability to handle the ball and make clutch plays will help them massively in the playoffs.
The team decided to sign D’Angelo Russell to temporarily replace Irving, but there is hope that the 2016 NBA champion can recover sooner.
Jason Kidd has a great bunch of players and if he gets a fit Irving before the playoffs, Dallas could be the team to beat in the West.