The Sixers’ point guard battle should get a little more interesting on Friday night when Pierre Jackson is set to make his preseason debut.
Returning from a torn Achilles that kept him out for the entire 2014-15 season and a groin injury that sidelined him for much of training camp, Jackson is competing against Isaiah Canaan, Scottie Wilbekin and T.J. McConnell for one or two openings on the roster.
While head coach Brett Brown said he plans on keeping three point guards on his 15-man roster, veterans Kendall Marshall and Tony Wroten are not expected to be ready when the season begins on Oct. 28.
That could leave the Sixers shorthanded in the backcourt and could be the opening McConnell needs.
Undrafted out of Arizona, McConnell has averaged 6.5 points, 5.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.0 turnovers while shooting 50 percent from the field in 20.5 minutes during his two preseason games. He hit a 10-footer with 6.5 seconds left to beat Brooklyn in last Saturday’s game in Albany, New York.
More importantly, McConnell has drawn raves from his former point guard coach who loves his intangibles.
“Toughness, tenacity and point-guard intellect,” Brown said of McConnell. “He has a combination of speed and quickness. His ability to push the ball from baseline to baseline is an A. His ability to pick up full court and pressure the ball is an A.”
A finalist for the Bob Cousy Award as the top collegiate point guard, McConnell spent his first two years at Duquesne before transferring to Arizona. At 6-foot-2 and 188 pounds, McConnell isn’t going to intimidate anyone on the court, but he will get his hands dirty.
If he’s going to make the team, McConnell will be counted on to do the dirty work.
“He’s going to be a backup point guard if he’s going to make the team,” Brown said. “He’s instant energy, he’s lightning in a bottle. That’s what we did with Patty Mills my first few years [with San Antonio] — just come in and be reckless abandon. That’s what I would assume T.J. will do as well.”
McConnell might have the reckless abandon part down. After missing the first preseason game with a sprained foot, McConnell admits he might have stretched the truth a bit in order to get back on the court.
“I was pretty much lying to you at that point. I was going to say anything to be able to play,” McConnell said. “But at this point I’m not feeling any pain. The training staff did a great job and I think they are the best training staff in the NBA. They did a good job of putting my foot back together.”
After a night off at Madison Square Garden on Monday for the game against the Knicks, McConnell will be back in the fray with Canaan and Jackson on Friday night against Washington.
“So far I thought I’ve done well, but I’ve made some mistakes,” McConnell said. “I’m kind of just taking it day by day and trying not to look ahead.”