P.J. Tucker is an NBA veteran who has established a reputation for being a Grade A pest and playing aggressively. He has spent the majority of his career acting as a hired gun, travelling wherever his services are required to engage in tough defence and enrage his adversaries. This article will examine his playing style in more detail and explain why he is such a divisive character in the NBA.
The Incident
Tucker yelled angrily at teammate Tyrese Maxey for not withdrawing swiftly enough on a Celtics break late in Game 1 against them. He hit Jayson Tatum below the belt with a wrecking-ball-style fist, knocking him to the ground like a bag of mulch. Teammate Marcus Smart rushed to Tatum’s aid as he writhed beneath the hoop, running into Tobias Harris on the way. Shortly after the benches cleared, the scrum centred on Smart, Malcolm Brogdon, and the injured Joel Embiid. Not to be found at all? Tucker, P.J.
The Celtics and 76ers got into it after P.J. Tucker accidentally hit Tatum. pic.twitter.com/bzSwZuanls
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 2, 2023
Playing Right to the Edge
Whether or not he intended it, it’s completely unsurprising that Tucker found himself in the heart of such activity given his propensity for playing on the edge. He has earned a reputation as one of the NBA’s most obnoxious players by infuriating opponents with his tough defence and aggressive play. Think of Tucker in the same light as Marcus Smart’s rival team’s supporters.
A Career as a Hired-Gun
Tucker has worked as a hired gun for the majority of his career, travelling wherever his services are required to provide tough defence and agitate his adversaries. He has played an important role for a number of contending teams, including the Raptors, Bucks, Heat, and the Sixers right now. His path has been frequently blocked by the Celtics, including when they explored trading for him in 2017 at the trade deadline.
Clinic in Last Year’s Playoffs
In the playoffs last season, Tucker put on a clinic, checking Trae Young in the opening round, slamming Embiid in the second, and then putting Tatum through the ringer in the conference finals. He made their disagreements into a rugby battle by putting his hands, elbows, or knees on the rising star at all times. Tatum briefly created the impression that he was more interested in matching Tucker’s toughness than simply dominating him with his obvious height and skill advantage. As a result, in Game 3, Tatum scored 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting to give the Heat a 2-1 lead.
An Admirable Record
Tucker’s tenacity is shown in the fact that he continues to compete in the NBA. After being selected by the Raptors in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draught, he spent four years playing in countries such as the Ukraine, Italy, and Israel. He didn’t become a recognised NBA player for another six years, but now he can boast that, together with Miami’s Kyle Lowry and Utah’s Rudy Gay, he is one of just three alumni still playing professionally.
Alter the Team’s DNA
Given that the Celtics are no longer defending Tucker on the perimeter, there is some debate in Philadelphia as to whether he should still be in the starting lineup. It could be preferable to give part of his playing time to De’Anthony Melton, who is more dynamic. But doing so would change the team’s DNA since Tucker is like a younger version of Draymond Green, a selfless, gritty, and rugged defender who makes you want to put on your hard hat and perhaps a cup as well.