The Indiana Pacers have agreed to a long-term contract with reserve guard and playoff star T.J. McConnell.

McConnell’s agents, Mark Bartelstein and Andy Shiffman, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski their client will sign a four-year, $45 million deal with the Pacers.

Combined with the $9 million remaining on his current deal, McConnell will earn $54 million over the next five seasons.

Indiana has spent big this offseason to keep its core group together following a deep playoff run last season. Pascal Siakam signed a four-year, $189 million deal at the start of free agency in July. Andrew Nembhard received a three-year, $59 million extension.

The 32-year-old McConnell just played an invaluable role on the 2023-24 Pacers, who reached the Eastern Conference Finals. The former Arizona star was exceptional off the bench, averaging 11.8 points and 5.1 assists in 20.5 minutes per game.

He and fellow reserve Obi Toppin provided incredible energy off the bench to help push the Pacers into the third round.

McConnell also had the best regular season of his nine-year career, averaging 10.2 points on 55.6 percent shooting, 5.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds. He finished seventh in the Sixth Man of the Year race.

For these and other reasons, this extension comes as no surprise. Michael Scotto in HoopsHype reported on June 15 that there was a “prevailing notion” around the league that Indiana Pacers would try to sign McConnell to a new deal.

McConnell landed in Indiana as a free agent on a two-year, $7 million deal in 2019 after four seasons on the Philadelphia 76ers. He then inked a four-year, $33,600,000 deal to remain in town through 2025.

McConnell was due $9.3 million (but only $5 million guaranteed) in 2024-25, but now he’s earned himself a well-deserved extension after a fantastic year.