The Indiana Pacers have made their pick for who will represent the team on stage at the NBA Draft Lottery this Sunday in Chicago—and it's a familiar face. Veteran point guard T.J. McConnell will step into the spotlight when the lottery results are announced at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN. But the decision comes with a twist: All-Star Tyrese Haliburton actually turned down the gig, citing a case of bad luck from his previous stint in the role.

McConnell, 34, is no stranger to the Pacers' organization. Now in his seventh season with the team and 11th overall in the NBA, he's earned a reputation as a gritty, reliable floor general. Despite Indiana's challenging 2023-24 campaign—where they finished with the league's second-worst record and a franchise-worst 19-63 mark—McConnell quietly put together one of his most impressive seasons. He averaged 9.4 points and 5.1 assists per game while shooting an efficient 53.8% from the field. Even with a career-low 17.2 minutes per game as the team managed his sore hamstrings during a rebuilding year, his per-36-minute numbers were stellar: 10.7 assists (team-best) and 19.6 points (second only to All-Star forward Pascal Siakam among players with at least 30 games).

So, do the Pacers feel lucky with McConnell at the lottery table? The team's draft hopes hinge on landing a top-four pick in a loaded class, and having a steady hand like McConnell on stage might just tip the scales. After all, it's not every day a player known for his hustle and heart gets to represent his squad on one of the NBA's biggest offseason stages. For Pacers fans, this choice feels like a nod to the team's blue-collar identity—and maybe, just maybe, a little bit of good fortune.