After the Indiana Pacers lost Game 7 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals, a sad sight took over. T.J. McConnell, a long-time guard, was seen crying as he left the game floor. This sad view hit hard-not just for fans, but also for the team representatives.
As ESPN’s cameras kept up with McConnell to the tunnel, Karen Atkeson (Vice President of Player Relations), who deals with player ties for Indiana, stepped in. She told the camera guy to stop filming, covering McConnell in a very vulnerable time.
This clip spread fast, and at first, some thought Atkeson was McConnell’s mom. That confusion was later corrected as Atkeson has been with the Pacers for almost 30 years.
Hard tears
McConnell had good reason to feel sad. With a top player like Tyrese Haliburton out early from an injury, McConnell took over and scored 16 points, grabbed six rebounds, and setup three assists in 28 minutes. He led a third-quarter push with 10 points in a row, which kept Indiana in the game before the Thunder took the win, 103-91.
“There is no award for second place”, McConnell said after the game. “Defeated, but proud of everything we have acomplished. Hats off to OKC-they were the better team today“
This event showed how tough top-level games can be and the real side of pro sports. Even though the Pacers didn’t win their first NBA crown, McConnell’s hard work and lead left a strong mark on his team, fans, and even rivals.
Pacers’ fututre
After this heart-breaking loss to the Thund, Indiana must make some big choicesthis offseason, beginning with star guard Tyrese Haliburton. He has an achilles injuryt that might keep him off the court for most of the next season.
They also have to decide a bit on their roster, like if they will keep center Myles Turner and fix depth issues up front. With Haliburton out, Indiana might look at trades or signing new players to stay in the game.
Yet, the Pacers still have a strong group where players like Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and T.J. McConnell must dominate their positions, as well as a good 2026 first-round pick to use. How they deal with this key time will shape their future.
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