76ers McConnell Could be This Year’s Robert Covington

It’s difficult to make calculated, statistic-based predictions regarding NBA players and teams, but the Philadelphia 76ers have a talent that has defied expectations so far in the season. Gauging what point guard T.J. McConnell will do for the remainder of the season is just speculation, but the undrafted rookie has been a revelation for the Sixers in the backcourt.

Sound familiar to an early theme last season for Philadelphia? After tearing up the D-League in the 2013-14 season, small forward Robert Covington signed on with the Sixers with little expectations attached to his four-year deal. Covington seamlessly forced his way off the bench and into the starting lineup with multiple double-digit scoring games in early November of 2014. He added a different dynamic to the starting lineup as a 3-point ace, dropping double-digit points in 11 of 12 games since suiting up for the first team last season against Atlanta on Dec. 5.

Similarly, McConnell has given Philadelphia a playmaker lacking in the starting five and one who can effectively feed the post. On the surface, McConnell is averaging a modest 5.6 PPG on 45 percent shooting from the floor and is bringing in 4.7 boards per game.

McConnell essentially was a prober without a purpose in the summer leagues and preseason, but has been adept at setting up teammates. The 7.6 assists — good for fifth in the league — he’s averaging in seven games is impressive for an undrafted rookie point guard, but delving into how they are effectively benefiting the Sixers shines light on McConnell’s value so far.

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Per nba.com/stats, McConnell is fifth in Assist Points Created (points created by a player or team through their assists) with 17.6. He’s trailing superstars that include Russell Westbrook and John Wall and passing maestros in Ricky Rubio and Rajon Rondo in the respective category. He’s effectively creating for guys that are seemingly part of the young core for the Sixers and those looking to grasp a long-term rotational spot.

While the Sixers are looking for victories, they also have been notably keen on player development. McConnell is the antithesis of selfish, as he ranks second in the NBA in passes per game at 70.4. While he’s showed a hyper-passive approach in differing to teammates constantly, it has been an effective game plan as McConnell has been a part of four of the five most effective lineups for the Sixers on the season.

McConnell presents a refreshing look for head coach Brett Brown, who has had his share of starting point guards in the past two seasons. He’s not straining his new lead guard, as McConnell only is playing a shade under 28.8 minutes per game, but ranks among the league leaders in assists per game despite recently being thrust into a starting gig.

The former Duquesne and Arizona product also has been sneaky-efficient on the defensive end. McConnell ranks first among regular rotational players for the Sixers in opponent’s shooting percentage, as his man is only shooting a paltry 38.9 percent from the floor (up from 33.3 percent before the Bulls game). He’s also third on the team with 1.4 steals per game, using his pesky defensive tendencies to come up with loose balls. The 6’2″, 200-pound lead guard has shown two-way versatility that warrants staying power in the Association, even when other guards that include Tony Wroten and Kendall Marshall return from injury for the Sixers.

At 23 years old, McConnell isn’t as green as a one-and-done player. He’s displayed the understanding of what to do in certain situations, albeit he has carelessly stepped on the baseline or has thrown an errant pass or two. Similarly to Covington, McConnell has been fighting off competition for minutes in Isaiah Canaan and Phil Pressey with efficient play and command of the offense.

Across the board, McConnell has surpassed the former starter in Canaan in many offensive categories beneficial to the team. While Canaan has shown the ability to be a spark plug at the point, McConnell has operated in the realm of efficiency. Getting his teammates involved in the offense has been apparent for McConnell thus far.

The chart above — from Liberty Ballers’ Derek Bodner — showcases the impact McConnell had on the two building blocks down low in Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor through the team’s first four games of the season. It effectively articulates McConnell’s importance as well as helping the production of two potential cornerstones. His play is reminiscent of an overlooked talent the Sixers signed last year in Ish Smith.

Noel called Smith the “first true point guard” he has played with in the NBA last season. Currently, McConnell has flashed the same traits that helped Smith thrive in the Sixers system in 2014-15. He’s got the bigs involved and hasn’t been a volume shooter at the point.

The issue McConnell is currently facing, is the ability to create his own shot and effectively attack the basket. He has never made an appearance at the charity stripe this season and sometimes has the propensity to probe instead of attack with fervor driving to the rim.

While he doesn’t possess the athleticism deemed necessary to attack his man off the dribble on many possessions per game, his vision, dribbling towards the hoop, allows efficient looks from marksmen like Nik Stauskas or Hollis Thompson for a dish out or a feed down low to a big. Rarely you’ll see Canaan dart a pass leading to an open look for a wing on the perimeter. McConnell has tied vision with accuracy to maximize his teammates opportunities.

McConnell came into the organization with a concrete role of a facilitating lead guard. Currently fifth in assists per game and assist percentage, McConnell has maneuvered his way into the starting point guard role and looks to be content with continuing to benefit the Sixers in a plethora of ways. Like Covington, McConnell’s ascension to becoming an NBA starter in just under a month with his first professional opportunity could be continuous. The Sixers aren’t coming up with wins, but they might have unearthed another gem in T.J. McConnell.