T.J. McConnell or Braden Smith? Who is your pick for the Indiana Pacers’ backup point guard? The Pacers made moves to acquire Smith in the second round of the NBA Draft. All signs point to Smith, who finished his college career at Purdue as the all-time NCAA Division I assist leader - eventually filling McConnell’s role as Indiana’s high-energy guard off the bench.
How do the two players compare heading into the 2026-27 season? Let’s check the tale of the tape.
Measurables
Smith checked in at 5'10 and 166 pounds during the NBA Draft Combine. That stature would get exploited relentlessly in NBA half-court settings. The Pacers will presumably avoid constant mismatches by using Smith the same way they use McConnell – with relentless, full-court pressure on the opposing ballhandler.
McConnell was measured at 6'0 and 187 pounds at his NBA Draft Combine back in 2015. The Pacers now list him at 6'1 and 190 pounds. Whatever the actual numbers, McConnell has proven he can play a viable role on both ends of the floor for a winning team.
Edge: McConnell
Age and contract
McConnell has defied the usual age curve by slightly improving his production in his early 30s. However, McConnell is now 34 years old. Father Time remains undefeated. If you look at an NBA “age by production” curve, you’ll see McConnell is on the wrong side of it.
He’s also due about $11 million over the next three seasons, with a window for a reduced cap hit after the 2026-27 season and a club option for the final season.
Smith will be 23 when his rookie season begins. He has signed a two-way contract, which doesn’t count against Indiana’s salary cap. If Smith’s play this season merits a standard rookie contract, that’s an excellent problem for the Pacers to have. That would mean Smith is playing well enough to merit a full roster spot.
Edge: Smith
Scoring
McConnell’s points-per-minute metrics as a Pacer are better than Smith’s points-per-minute numbers at Purdue. McConnell is a proven scorer at the NBA level. Smith will have to show he can do the same,
Edge: McConnell
Shooting
McConnell has been a relatively pedestrian 3-point shooter by NBA standards during his time in Indiana. He has a 35.0 3-point percentage as a Pacer, with a marked decline in the last two seasons.
Smith never shot worse than 36.2 percent from 3-point range in a season at Purdue, but he must prove he can match those numbers at NBA distance.
Many observers point to college free-throw percentage as the best predictor of pro 3-point shooting potential. If that’s true, Smith has a higher ceiling than McConnell. Smith made 83 percent of his free throws as a Boilermaker. McConnell was closer to 75 percent during his college days.
This is an area where Smith could eventually provide an upgrade.
Potential edge: Smith
Passing and ball-handling
You’re probably assuming Smith gets the edge here. You’d be wrong.
McConnell has averaged more than five assists per game as a Pacer with a 3.44-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. (It was closer to 5-to-1 last season). Smith might be the all-time NCAA Division I leader in total assists, but his college assist-to-turnover ratio was 2.79-to-1 – worse than McConnell’s ratio in Indiana. Smith must maintain his assist production while cutting down on turnovers - an elite NBA playmaker should have an assist-to-turnover ratio of at least 3-to-1 - to emerge as a viable candidate for McConnell’s role.
Edge: Until proven otherwise, it's McConnell
Defense
Neither McConnell nor Smith will ever be a lockdown one-on-one defender in the NBA. McConnell has proven he can play a specific role as a defender on a winning NBA team. Smith will have to prove he can do the same.
Edge: McConnell
Final verdict
The Pacers showed foresight in adding a potential local fan favorite to contend for a role held by an aging player. However, all the numbers point to McConnell continuing in his current role in the 2026-27 season.
Smith needs to emerge as a knockdown 3-point shooter, cut down on the turnovers, and prove he can hold his own on the defensive end before he is considered the heir apparent to a spot in the Pacers’ backcourt rotation.
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