SACRAMENTO — P.J. Tucker understands his fame as a hard-nosed participant who’s prepared to vocalize displeasure.
He embraces it — “I’m just a realist,” Tucker stated.
However the 39-year-old, who formally turned a Knick on Monday, is also a voice of encouragement for struggling teammates, a trait that was introduced up within the context of Mikal Bridges’ current stumbles.
“I’ve been there. I know how it goes. It’s a long, long season. And when you’re in it, when you’re shooting bad, when it’s just not going right, you just need guys behind you to tell you those are good shots,” Tucker stated. “Tell you to keep working. Keep doing this, keep doing that. Staying in that positivity. You need that. And a lot of times when you become a vet and be in the league, like young guys and stuff on the bench, they’re not going to do that. They’re not going to have your back like that. So it’s always good to have vets and like-minded guys that just have each other’s back. And that’s what really makes a team strong — just knowing that they have people there and I support you whether you’re playing good or bad. We’re in it together.”
Tucker’s wealth of successful NBA expertise is exclusive to a locker room with just one rotational participant in his 30s — Josh Hart, who simply cracked 30 final week.
After sitting out all season whereas pushing for a commerce from the Clippers, Tucker stated he focused the Knicks for his return within the buyout market.
He signed a 10-day contract Monday with an understanding that he’ll stick round for the rest of the season and playoffs if all goes in response to plan.
Tucker’s most vital connection was because the longtime shopper of agent Leon Rose, who now runs the Knicks entrance workplace.
“There were a few [options]. That was the thing — just trying to pick the right place,” Tucker stated. “I always felt like the Knicks were my first option throughout the whole process so I was happy to wait it out and be able to make that happen.”
Tucker certainly waited a very long time to get again on an NBA court docket.
He was rostered by the Clippers for many of this season however left the workforce whereas the perimeters labored out a commerce.
Tucker, who logged at the least 81 video games in 5 totally different seasons, was then dealt a number of instances as wage filler earlier than being waived and signing with the Knicks.
To remain sharp, Tucker stated he educated all season in Houston and Philadelphia.
“It felt like I just got drafted again,” he stated. “It’s like an entire new recent power, particularly coming from residence. It’s totally different. Belief me, it’s totally different.
“After missing hardly any time at all. So it gave me a different viewpoint, it made me appreciate it a lot more. Not that I’ve never appreciated it. But it gives that refreshing — like I feel like a kid again.”
On the court docket, Tucker was all the time a corner-3 specialist who operated with depth on protection.
It’s honest to query how a lot he has within the tank — particularly after such a protracted layoff — however Tucker assured he’s “cool earning my stripes again.”
The Knicks made an identical signing final season with Taj Gibson, who, opposite to plans, was pressured into rapid motion due to accidents.
Regardless, intense vocal management doesn’t fade away.
“Obviously we welcome that,” Hart stated. “We want him to be who he is. They signed him for a reason. He has to keep doing what got him here and part of that is the leadership aspect and the vocal ability.”
It might assist out the youthful teammates in want of help, together with Bridges, whose affect hasn’t come near equaling the 5 first-round picks the Knicks gave as much as purchase him.
Tucker’s recommendation began within the first morning shootaround.
“It’s actually easy [being a leader on a 10-day contract],” Tucker stated. “As a result of a lot of the younger guys — like proper now earlier than I got here to speak to you [media] guys, we had been sitting on the court docket and I used to be speaking to guys, speaking in regards to the state of affairs that’s going to occur [against the Kings], what the workforce wants, how we are able to get higher, what we have to do.
“And so it’s funny how they kind of just come to you, gravitate to you, being that voice of reason.”
