His name had been associated with that of James Harden since last summer. PJ Tucker was finally transferred with the bearded man, from the 76ers to the Clippers. “ I didn’t expect to be traded, so I didn’t know. It came out of nowhere », Reacts the 38-year-old veteran, quoted by the New York Postdespite these summer rumors.
And according to him, he was not the only one to have moved forward in the dark. The 2021 NBA champion says he sent a text message to Joel Embiid, also caught off guard, after the transaction. “ From what I know, he didn’t know that either. But you never know with this sort of thing. It’s the NBA. We never know. »
Above all, we knew that there was mutual interest between James Harden and the Clippers, and that such a transfer could ultimately involve other players.
That the 76ers wanted to “slip” PJ Tucker into the exchange could be understood. Because he must receive 11 million dollars this season, with a “player option” (11.5 million) for the following season.
“ James’ situation has nothing to do with me. Even though I’m mixed up in all this, I’m kind of a victim (collateral),” says the veteran who, unlike his teammate, had no intention of leaving Pennsylvania.
Lots of “noise” around the 76ers
Because he still believes the Philadelphia team can win with Joel Embiid. “ I know him, I’ve been around him, he pushes these guys to try to be better. They have a new coach (Nick Nurse). But he’s been around these guys, so they’re going to be a good team », says PJ Tucker.
Which was already the case until now, according to him, despite the media stir generated by the successive situations of Ben Simmons and James Harden. “ The media will make of it what they want, but Philly has a good team. We had a good team. What James said was that when we played, we won. It might have worked, but it won’t. But it was a good team. I think all the noise was just that: noise. »
There should be no shortage of noise in Los Angeles either. With such a constellation of stars gathered at the Clippers, expectations will also be very high. At least leaving Philadelphia, PJ Tucker still has a chance to go big. That’s all he’s looking for at this stage of his career.
“ I don’t want to play if it’s not for a team that has a chance of winning. For eighteen years, if I don’t pursue this goal, I can’t play. This is useless. And this team really has a chance. Look at our squad. I don’t know many teams as strong as us on paper », he concludes.
| PJ Tucker | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2006-07 | TOR | 17 | 5 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 57.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.8 |
| 2012-13 | PHX | 79 | 24 | 47.3 | 31.4 | 74.4 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 6.4 |
| 2013-14 | PHX | 81 | 31 | 43.1 | 38.7 | 77.6 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 6.5 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 9.4 |
| 2014-15 | PHX | 78 | 31 | 43.8 | 34.5 | 72.7 | 1.5 | 5.0 | 6.4 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 9.1 |
| 2015-16 | PHX | 82 | 31 | 41.1 | 33.0 | 74.6 | 2.0 | 4.2 | 6.2 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 8.0 |
| 2016-17 * | All Teams | 81 | 28 | 41.3 | 35.7 | 77.4 | 1.4 | 4.4 | 5.8 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 6.7 |
| 2016-17 * | PHX | 57 | 29 | 41.5 | 33.8 | 79.2 | 1.7 | 4.4 | 6.0 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 7.0 |
| 2016-17 * | TOR | 24 | 25 | 40.6 | 40.0 | 68.8 | 1.0 | 4.4 | 5.4 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 5.8 |
| 2017-18 | HOU | 82 | 28 | 39.0 | 37.1 | 71.7 | 1.1 | 4.4 | 5.6 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 6.1 |
| 2018-19 | HOU | 82 | 34 | 39.6 | 37.7 | 69.5 | 1.5 | 4.4 | 5.8 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 7.3 |
| 2019-20 | HOU | 72 | 34 | 41.5 | 35.8 | 81.3 | 1.6 | 5.1 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 6.9 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 52 | 26 | 37.3 | 33.6 | 75.0 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 3.7 |
| 2020-21 * | HOU | 32 | 30 | 36.6 | 31.4 | 78.3 | 1.0 | 3.6 | 4.6 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 4.4 |
| 2020-21 * | MIL | 20 | 20 | 39.1 | 39.4 | 60.0 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 2.6 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 71 | 28 | 48.4 | 41.5 | 73.8 | 1.4 | 4.0 | 5.5 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 7.6 |
| 2022-23 | PHL | 75 | 26 | 42.7 | 39.3 | 82.6 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 3.6 |
| 2023-24 * | All Teams | 4 | 22 | 33.3 | 40.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 3.3 | 4.8 | 0.0 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 |
| 2023-24 * | PHL | 3 | 22 | 40.0 | 40.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 2.0 |
| 2023-24 * | LAKE | 2 | 16 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| Total | 856 | 29 | 42.5 | 36.6 | 74.9 | 1.5 | 4.0 | 5.5 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 6.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
