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P.J. Tucker has only been on the Bucks for a few months but he’s given the team a toughness and winning mentality that the team hopes will help it win the NBA championship. Get to know Tucker here.
How long has Tucker been on the Bucks?
He’s been with the Bucks since March. He was acquired in a trade that sent D.J. Augustin, D.J. Wilson and the Bucks’ first-round picks in 2021 and 2023. The Bucks also acquired the Rockets’ 2021 second-round selection and their 2022 first-round pick.
Has he played for other teams?
Yes. Tucker was drafted by the Toronto Raptors in 2006 and spent one season there before playing in Europe for five years. He returned to the NBA and played for the Phoenix Suns for the 2012-’13 season and spent the next 4½ years there. He was traded to Toronto and finished the rest of the 2016-’17 season with the Raptors. Tucker signed a four-year deal with Houston in that offseason. He spent 3½ years with the Rockets.
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Where is Tucker from?
He’s from Raleigh, North Carolina.
What’s Tucker known for?
His defense. He was the primary defender on Kevin Durant during the Eastern Conference semifinals. While Durant put up huge point totals, Tucker made his friend work for every point and even went nose-to-nose with the superstar during one scuffle in the series. He gives the Bucks a hard-nosed defender for the playoffs.
Tucker’s a seasoned veteran who entered the 2021 postseason with a lot of experience (50 games, 41 starts). He was part of the Rockets’ 2018 Western Conference Finals team, a run in which he shot 46.7% from three-point range.
How tall is he?
6-foot-5
How old is Tucker?
36 years old
What’s his nickname?
He was born Anthony Leon Tucker Jr., but he was given the nickname P.J. by his father. The initials stand for “Pops Junior.” He earned the nickname “The Tuck Wagon” in Houston.
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What were his stats in 2020-21?
In 32 games in Houston, he averaged 4.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 blocks, 0.9 steals, 36.6% shooting, 31.4% from three-point range and 78.3% from the free-throw line.
In 20 games in Milwaukee, he 2.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.1 blocks, 0.5 steals, 39.1% shooting, 39.4% from three-point range, 60.0% from the free-throw line.
He has now moved into the Bucks’ starting lineup for the postseason with Donte DiVincenzo injured.
Who’s Tucker’s family?
Tucker’s wife is named Tracey. They have three kids. His dad served in the Army, and he spent time living in Germany.
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Other facts about Tucker?
He was a star in the Euroleague. He was a German League champion in 2012, a season in which he was the Finals MVP and All Star. In 2008, while playing in Israel he was the Super League champion and MVP in 2008. That year he also was the Israeli Basketball Premier League Finals MVP. He also made the All-Star team while playing in the Ukrainian Super League.
He was a second-team All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year in 2006 at Texas.
Tucker and Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul were childhood friends in North Carolina.
Tucker and Hawks head coach Nate McMillan are both graduates of Enloe High in East Raleigh. They were both honored at the high school in 2019.
Contact Christopher Kuhagen at (262) 446-6634 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @ckuhagen.