Even the 76ers’ playoff savior isn’t immune to getting turned off by a brash Ben Roethlisberger.
Sure, T.J. McConnell was only a sixth-grader asking for an autograph when he met the Steelers quarterback a few years back, but Roethlisberger apparently had little time for the Pittsburgh native at a “hoops for a cure” event.
T.J. McConnellGetty Images“I respect him as a player, but he wasn’t exactly the nicest guy,” McConnell said Tuesday on the Dan Patrick Show. “But, I mean, he was being bombarded by people, so I understand. … It wasn’t too good of an interaction.”
McConnell said the experience made him stop rooting for the Steelers for a time, instead pulling for fellow AFC North teams — specifically the Bengals, he said.
“I was a little petty and rooted for some teams in our division and then, now, I’ve reverted back to a Steelers fan,” he said.
Patrick suggested that McConnell should offer Roethlisberger playoff tickets, but the 76ers guard wasn’t sure it would work.
“I’ll see what I can do, but who knows, he probably won’t be too interested,” McConnell said with a chuckle.
While his distaste for Roethlisberger didn’t turn him into an Eagles fan, McConnell can do no wrong in Philadelphia these days. He scored 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting while getting the start in Game 4 Monday to help the 76ers stave off elimination against the Celtics.
