In today's social media-driven world, where almost every opinion can reach thousands of people within seconds, bizarre and sometimes disrespectful takes have become increasingly common. One such claim recently came from rising BIG3 sensation Nasir Core, who boldly declared that he would "fry" Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell in a potential 1v1 setting.
Naturally, that statement may have sounded like harmless confidence, but it also meant taking a shot at an NBA point guard who has spent more than a decade proving his value at the highest level. That is why 2021 NBA champ Jeff Teague wasn't particularly impressed by the claim and questioned the need and audacity of disrespecting a veteran like McConnell, while highlighting the talent of the Indiana Pacers guard.
Core has certainly earned plenty of attention for his recent BIG3 performances.
The former Florida A&M guard made history this year in July by recording the highest-scoring half in BIG3 history. Playing for the Detroit Amps, he scored 29 points against the Dallas Power, ultimately finishing the contest with 31 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals.
McConnell, meanwhile, may not have had the same eye-catching games or physical profile that typically makes an NBA player look intimidating. Yet his value cannot be judged by his averages and box score numbers.
Sure, T.J. may have averaged just 10.7 points per game in his career-best campaign, but his role is making the most impact in limited minutes with efficiency, elite playmaking, and hard-nosed defense.
And when T.J. did not have a restricted umbrella to work under, he averaged a staggering 34 points and nine assists per game during his senior year in high school.
That is why Teague knows and even emphasized that there is only one reason why undersized guards like McConnell and Payton Pritchard are disrespected by such claims online.
"TJ McConnell can guard now. Like he do all this, little fade… T.J. probably not even paying attention. He probably not even knowing who Nas is," Teague said on his podcast. "People tryin' to call T.J. and Payton Pritchard out because he's a little white dude."
Sure, a 1v1 setting may rule out several of T.J.'s main strengths, such as his playmaking or his ability to create open looks for himself by tirelessly running. However, his performance in the 2025 NBA Finals clearly indicated that McConnell is intimidating when put under pressure or called upon to deliver.
Against one of the greatest defensive teams ever seen, the OKC Thunder , which featured defenders like Luguentz Dort and Alex Caruso , T.J. averaged 12.0 points per game on 60.0 percent shooting from three-point range, along with a team-high 2.1 steals per game.
Those numbers prove that reducing T.J. to his appearance, or assuming he cannot compete simply because he lacks the physical profile of a prototypical NBA star, is misguided.
Core may have plenty of confidence after his BIG3 breakout, but there are levels to competition, and McConnel would teach him that lesson quickly.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Sep 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
