PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 7: T.J. McConnell #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts in front of Terry Rozier #12 of the Boston Celtics after making a lay up in the third quarter during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 7, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Celtics 103-92. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

T.J. McConnell Was Bengals Fan After Ben Roethlisberger Angered Him in 6th Grade

Timothy RappMay 8, 2018

Philadelphia 76ers point guard T.J. McConnell is from Pittsburgh and grew up as a Steelers fan, but an interaction with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger when McConnell was in sixth grade caused him to temporarily switch allegiances and support the Cincinnati Bengals.

"I respect him as a player, but he wasn't exactly the nicest guy," McConnell said Tuesday on The Dan Patrick Show of his encounter with Roethlisberger. "He was being bombarded by people, so I understand."

TOP NEWS

Bleacher Report1w

Bleacher Report1w

Bleacher Report1w

McConnell said he was asking for an autograph during a Hoops for a Cure event at his high school and "it wasn't too good of an interaction."

"To be honest, I stopped rooting for the Steelers for a little bit after that," he admitted, adding: "I was a little petty and rooted for some teams in [the AFC North]. ... I was a Cincinnati Bengals fan for a little bit."

McConnell said he eventually reverted to being a Steelers fan.