The NBA reprimanded the Brooklyn Nets security guard who aggressively knocked the Milwaukee Bucks' P.J. But somebody has to do it. The pay cut Harden accepted created enough cap space to sign his former teammates and friends, P.J. Following a win in Game 6 over the Nets, Milwaukee Bucks forward PJ Tucker praised Kevin Durant. If NBA broadcasters ever wanted to offer an uncensored, mic'd-up option to watch entire games, people would . He also had four stints that season playing in the NBA Development League with the now-defunct Colorado 14ers. That was one of the worst years of my life, Tucker said. Guarding Kevin Durant is an impossible thing to do. PJ Tucker was a guest on Iman Shumperts podcast for two years ago. Tucker have faced off multiple times over the years especially in the playoffs. Did yall just see security run on the court? He claimed to be an NBA All-Star level player during his high school career as a forward for the Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rocketes. Hes the best scorer Ive ever seen in my life. Twelve years ago, he thought hed already played in his last game in the NBA when he was waived as a rookie in Toronto. Durant, of course, previously played with the Golden State Warriors, who faced Tucker and the Rockets in the past two NBA playoffs. When Kevin asked for a trade after requesting one, Kyrie knew the stakes were raised, and hes worked diligently ever since to stay on top of things. Ive guarded him every year in the playoffs.. One player Tucker has been mentoring is seldom-used forward Gary Clark, who was kept on the roster this season over 10-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony. This season, however, the Semi-finals between the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks was intense and it all came down to the wire in Game 7. New conversation. This week Kevin Durant should make his debut with the Suns. Tucker in Brooklyn& P.J. But the 2006 Big 12 Conference Player of the Year averaged only 1.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 4.9 minutes per game during the 2006-07 season. PJ Tucker is listed as Probable due to calf tightness after missing the second half of Monday's game. We dream about this our whole lives. [ad_1] JIMMY BUTLER INTERRUPTED his pregame warmup and made a beeline toward half court. Its the playoffs I dream about being in the playoffs guarding the best player in the world Im living my dream. A foundation of success and high performance had been set.. Report this user for behavior that violates our Community Guidelines. Tucker put everything he had into his battle with Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant. But Tucker said he has nothing but love for Durant, as the two have squared off numerous times throughout their careers, especially in the playoffs. Log into your account. Alex Hinton breaks down his top NBA player prop picks for Wednesday, March 1, including plays on Donovan Mitchell and Jimmy Butler. PJ cleared everything up following a game-six victory over the Nets. He played college basketball for the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a two-time All-Big 12 honorable mention. There is no definitive answer to this question as the two men have never spoken publicly about their relationship, if any. Youre gonna get thrown out; then we cant play. Getty Brooklyn's Kevin Durant and Milwaukee's P.J. However, since joining the NBA, the duo has faced each other on several big occasions. This is just a game at the end of the day, and both players know that, just like Mrs. Durant. Tucker have been going head to head for years now, especially in the Playoffs. Durant will need to show up big again, as the Nets have already ruled out Kyrie Irving and James Harden is clearly not playing like himself as he has only scored 14 points combined in his two games back. And its big-boy basketball. Tucker exchange words during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference second-round playoff series at the Fiserv Forum on June 10, 2021 . Rockets P.J. Tucker and Kevin Durant got into it at the 4-minute, 21-second mark of third quarter in Game . It keeps me going. Kevin Durant and P.J. Chris Paul won the Olympic gold medal with Chris Paul in 2012. 02/16 . Although P.J. The video of the conversation between the two is the cutest thing on the internet today. PJ Tucker is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. Now d it again. However, Tucker got the better of Durant last season as the Bucks brushed past the Nets in the playoffs. They always push each other on the court, which is a big part of their chemistry. However, during game 7 of the Nets vs Bucks last season, Tucker was involved in a famous trash-talking incident with Durants mom Wanda Durant. 5 hours ago - via Twitter JGrasso_ Recently, Shirley had the opportunity to speak with her son about his career. the belief in Brooklyn was that Simmons was set up for greatness playing alongside elite scorers Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Tucker was drafted in the year (2006), and in the same year, Kevin Durant became the freshman at the University of Texas. They have won multiple championships together, and their friendship has been well-documented. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports. Coming back? All rights reserved. Given it was a do-or-die game, of course everyone involved is going to be tense. Its crazy., Said Buck: We took a chance. I was going to get paid a couple million [in Russia]. Game-Seven will air tomorrow, and there still is uncertainty whether Nets player Kyrie Irving will play. Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant (35) passes the ball against the Houston Rockets PJ Tucker (17) during the fourth quarter of a NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019. It keeps me strong. The Controversy Surrounding LeBron Jamess Instruction To His Mother During A Post-Game Press Conference: An Analysis, The Phenomenal Polyglot: Uncovering LeBron James Multilingualism, Uncovering The Remarkable PPG Of Lebron James: Exploring His Incomparable Offensive Prowess, The King Of The Court: An Ode To LeBron James And His Record-Breaking Career, The Phenomenal LeBron James Matt: 35 Years Of Inspiration And Success. To be out of the NBA for that long to now having played as much as Ive played and have an impact that I am having on a team like this, I dont know if anyone has ever done it.. Vote For Luka Doni To Make The 2020 NBA All-Star Team! I played both ends of the court. It keeps me ticking. Who Is Mikal Bridges Girlfriend Grainger Rosati? In fact, Tucker never got to play with Durant at Texas, instead going to the NBA just before the All-Star arrived. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The Real MVP trash talk between Mama Durant and PJ Tucker revealed. Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. So, I was talking crazy, and she was like I was in him (Durant), Tucker told JJ Redick. I played hard. Market data provided by Factset. Tucker: Grabs season-high 16 boards Tucker contributed seven points (2-7 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-2 FT), 16 rebounds and one assist over 38 minutes during Saturday's 110-107 loss to the Celtics. PJ Tucker and the rest of the college fraternity exhaled in anticipation of KDs arrival. https://netswire.usatoday.com/2021/06/19/pj-tucker-opens-up-on-kevin-durant-and-their-fierce-competition/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. In the third quarter of Game 3 of the second-round NBA playoff series between the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum, former Warriors forward Kevin Durant was fouled by P.J. That was a decision I had made.. PJs mother was very happy to hear her sons positive attitude about his career and life in general. He is a superstar on his own terms, and he has helped him develop into one of the leagues best players. Then-Suns general manager Lance Blanks offered Tucker a non-guaranteed training camp invite during summer league play. Is Luka Doncics Health At Risk? I know what I could do. Im living my dream. Kevin Durant and PJ Tucker got right into each other's faces. This article first appeared on Sideline Sources and was syndicated with permission. Tucker have been going head to head for years now, especially in the Playoffs. Lamarcus Aldridge and Kevin Durant both played college basketball for the Texas Longhorns, but not at the same time. Hes the best scorer Ive ever seen in my life; I enjoy watching him play. Kevin Durant and PJ Tucker are alumni of the same college in Texas. Ouch. Quit playing football," she yelled at the big man. Kevin and Kyrie have been close friends since their days together, as they have both been through rough times. Then, in the offseason, the 76ers lured veteran power forward P.J. Tucker is siding with Kevin Durant. PJ Tucker and Kevin Durant are both Texas Longhorns and apparently have a pretty good relationship, but that went out the window during Game 3 of the Milwaukee Bucks - Brooklyn Nets series . 6:24 PM - 10 Jun 2021. P.J. Tucker -- playing hours after having root canals on three teeth he cracked during the Rockets' loss in Game 6 -- went 45 minutes, guarding Durant much of the time, and finished with 14 points, 12 . But Durants 48 points became the most in a game 7 in NBA postseason history. Who Is Keith Appling, Former NBA Player Accused of Second Degree Murder? T. In the third quarter of Game 3 of the second-round NBA playoff series between the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum, former Warriors forward Kevin Durant was fouled by P.J . When the Bucks veteran mentioned fighting with Durant, he was referring to his physical defense on the Nets forward and their vocal altercations after plays, such as this one from Game 3: Things got CHIPPY, chippy between #KevinDurant & #PJTucker in last nights game 3. 5990 S. Val Vista Dr.Chandler, AZ 85249Phone: 480-224-2100, Giannis Antetokounmpo And His Brothers: How Support From His Siblings Helped Shape His Success, LeBron James Absence Makes A Big Difference: Houston Rockets Vs Los Angeles Lakers. A mic'd-up P.J. Kevin Durant is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association. I dont know if Ive ever brought that much every single night, physically, emotionally, it was a toll. The two players have also been linked together off the court, as they are rumored to be brothers. Chavez/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images. I was done, man. Tucker and Kevin Durants mom exchanged some words in a light-hearted moment during Game 7 on Saturday. I got the utmost respect for Kevin, Tucker said. As an NBA player, Tucker was never able to play with Kevin Durant at the University of Texas; he chose to leave for the NBA just before the All-Star arrived. Wanda Durant wasn't happy with that and yelled at the player, telling him to play basketball. Dan Majerle was already one of my favorite players. I don't look at myself or my status in the league that I can't go through what other players in the league go through." WATCH THIS STORY: Butting Heads with LeBron James & All the Other Times Kevin Durant Showed His Anger. I signed a two-year deal in Russia for all the money. Dan used to sic me on people. Tucker as the NBA's toughest one-on-one defender for him. I enjoy it; hes the best scorer Ive ever seen in my life Thats my brother. D it again.' Bcause I'm nt gnna stop. P.J. She was like hes not playing basketball; he playing football. I tell them, Youre going to remember this when youre on that bus in Europe, that you have older guys trying to help you see through this, and you wouldnt see that. Tucker has been going after Durant on the defensive end all series long, and he has done well against Durant. He replied saying nah, its the playoffs. Both players have mutual respect for each other, and they are friends off the court. "Im sorry that people seen that language I used. His three All-Defensive First Team selections in 2014 and 2016 make him an All-Defensive First Team member for three straight years. That is like a part of my job too. I dont understand all this little stuff. Author: I said I love you mom and she right in stride, she says I love you too. You can really change games that way.. (Benny Sieu / USA Today) For Tucker, going against Durant was the reward for everything he had gone . This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission. Despite Tucker's solid defense, Durant still scored 32 points to go along with 11 rebounds. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. In response to a question posed on Twitter, Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant identified Houston Rockets forward P.J. This league has gotten so soft, security ran on the court , Wait. However, based on their interactions on social media and at public events, it appears that they are at least on good terms with one another. Subscribe to our YouTube chann. "I thought I was going to retire in Miami," Tucker said to the . Most of the guys who think like that dont last over there. Emailed daily. #ImDaRealMVP. In fact, Tucker not only called Durant the best scorer he has . 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Every coach in the country wanted to sign the nations second-best player to their college program. "I receive threats and disgusting messages DAILY, but never in my wildest dreams did I think @KDTrey5 would be among them," Rapaport wrote on Twitter. your password He even held him to 3-for-12 shooting while being his primary defender in game-four of the series. They have kept in touch over the years and have even been known to exchange text messages during games. Vote For Luka Doni To Make The 2020 NBA All-Star Team! H's gnna scre 50." Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Tucker went from one-and-done in the NBA to an eight-year veteran who has made $26 million in the league. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Dallas Mavericks Star Struggles In Playoffs And Fans Worry, LeBron James: Building A Legacy Of Empowerment And Hope Through I Promise, The Resilience Of Love: A Look At LeBron & Savannahs Timeless Relationship. But Durant got the better of Tucker in game 7 and scored 48 points. So Soft: Twitter Reacts as Kevin Durant Gets Ejected for Elbowing Pistons Me and Kevin fight every year. Dan told me, I want you to get the best player on every team and shut them down, Tucker said. This series was memorable, but it's time to move on for both franchises. Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. They didnt need me. PJ Tucker recently appeared in an interview on JJ Redicks YouTube channel. I got successful. The Suns are absolutely loaded, and have the second-best odds to win the NBA title at BetMGM. Tucker has had minimal success guarding Kevin Durant, it will be interesting to see if Antetokounmpo will attempt to go star-on . Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets is defended by P.J. However, it wasnt enough as the Nets crashed out of the series by losing 115111 in overtime. Draymond has hilarious reaction to KD-Tucker skirmish. P.J. And . Tucker had something of a contentious relationship throughout the Brooklyn . Tucker, unhappy with the call, went after Durant but in the middle of the confrontation, a seemingly random security guard was seen running into the middle of the scrum to separate the two players . The two have complementary skillsets that have helped them form a successful partnership both on and off the court. "Hopefully I can move past it and get back out on the floor.". I love my role. It is difficult to win a Final Four game, but there is only one winner. Is Luka Doncics Health At Risk? Tucker got into a verbal confrontation during Milwaukee . However, Tucker has recently revealed the conversation he had with Wanda. 291 replies 641 retweets 4,763 likes. However, this hasnt stopped Durant from lighting it up in the series. But he will play it as if it were his last. This season, however, the Semi-finals between the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks was intense and it all came down to the wire in Game 7. More on this storyline. I was comfortable with it. Both Tucker and Durant were born to African-American mothers. The 63-year-old NBA icon, who appears in Coke Zero Sugar's March Madness campaign, tells PEOPLE that the idea of star players sitting out, with the intention of . Tucker has two older brothers, Paul and Phillip. If they are not related, they are still close friends who have a lot of respect for each other. Tucker said he sees the NBA through a different lens now and truly appreciates every single game he plays. ", JAZZ PLAYERS RECALL TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE AFTER EMERGENCY PLANE LANDING: 'THIS MIGHT BE REALLY THE END'. I love what I do. Durant is one of the best scorers in the NBA, and Tucker is known for his defensive prowess. Still, the best-case scenario if Tucker made the Suns was a $762,195 minimum salary a pay cut of more than $1 million from what he would have earned in Russia. Tuckers gamble paid off, as he made the Suns roster for the 2012-13 season. The Bucks and Nets found themselves in a rock fight on Thursday, with Milwaukee taking an early 30-9 . But now that Rapaport exposed Durant on social media, in the social justice conscious NBA, what -- if any -- will be the league's reaction. Nobody wants to guard Kevin Durant. When a prospective freshman named Kevin Durant visited the Austin campus, however, Tucker felt his . After P.J. Durant even had a 49 point triple-double performance in the series where he played all 48 minutes. After coming back from a 28-point deficit on Friday, Mikal Bridges feels that offense isn't the issue for the Nets. You had guys feeding their families. By the summer of 2012, Tucker was making a comfortable living for himself overseas and signed a two-year contract paying at least $2 million with BC Spartak St. Petersburg of Russia. In fact, Tucker went on to win the first championship of his career. A Football Management Kevin Durant's mom, Wanda, starred in a heated and hilarious exchange with PJ Tucker during Game 7 of the Brooklyn Nets-Milwaukee Bucks series. What did Kevin Durant's mother say to PJ Tucker? Kevin Durant and PJ Tucker are alumni of the same college in Texas. Tucker latches onto Kevin Durant every time both men step onto the hardwood together. Either way, the two players have had a positive impact on each others careers. Right now, while Im in the playoffs, I dont try to look back at it, Tucker told The Undefeated. Miami Heat forward P.J. Durant was exposed by Michael Rapaport for using homophobic slurs in a private Instagram conversation. NBA player P.J. In addition to being a Michael Jordan fan, Abhishek is Over the last few months, more videos on YouTube showed PJ clearly loving going against KD and constantly pushing him around on the court. Their time as teammates came to an end when Durant left Texas for the NBA after his sophomore year, but the bond between the two players remains strong. The Nets, of course, lost to the Bucks in the last seconds of the game. PJ made it clear that he loves going against KD, constantly pushing each other on the court. Durant will make his Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night, and one of the more anticipated experiments in the NBA this season will get off the ground. I'm nt ging anywhere. The camera was on Tucker and Durants mom, Wanda, who was not too pleased about the foul on her son. The two have been teammates on the USA Basketball team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Golden State Warriors. Tucker (17) in the first quarter during game seven in the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. In fact, Tucker never got to play with Durant at Texas, instead going to the NBA just before the All-Star arrived. If youre a winner, you can play forever over there.. In fact, before the playoffs, he started on just one occasion. Brooklyn received unprotected picks in 2023, 2025 . PJ Tuckers mother, Shirley Tucker, is a Durrant native. I didnt get a whole lot of help or guidance. , If it wasnt for my wife and my agent, I wouldnt have come back. It was the first overtime game in the NBA since 2006 and the first in a series since 1987. They really caught it. Nobody wants to do that. , The #Bucks were able to sneak out a 3-point victory over the #Nets to make it a 2-1 series.pic.twitter.com/8Gysk4Dk3q, Designated Report (@DesignatedRpt) June 11, 2021. Rockets coach Mike DAntoni said his team won Game 3 because of Tucker, who had 7 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. My wife just had my son. Tucker: First debit card I ever had was because of eBay so I could buy shoes, The complete and insane list of P.J. Im still persevering through to make it so guys that are like me can have that lane to say, I can do it, said Tucker, who played in all 82 games in each of the past two NBA regular seasons. In fact, Tucker not only called Durant the best scorer he has ever seen, but he said he dreamt to be in moments like this guarding one of the best players in the world on the biggest stage of basketball. I take pride in it. All he would need to do was defend and pass the . His career averages include 22.1 points, 10.3 assists, and 2.2 boards per game. October 30, 2021 10:43 am ET. Saturday was an important day for the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks, as the winner of Game 7 would officially move on to the Eastern Conference Finals. He said he thinks about his gamble all the time and remembers guarding then-Oklahoma City star forward Kevin Durant during his first start on Dec. 31, 2012. You love to see these moments to find out how intense the playoffs are. Tucker will play in his 618th career NBA game when the Houston Rockets host the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of their second-round playoff series on Monday night. Tucker, Danuel House Jr., and Montrezl Harrell in free agency. You cant help but smile after watching that light-hearted interaction. Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) passes the ball against the Houston Rockets' PJ Tucker (17) during the fourth quarter of a NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019. Im not backing down from nothing. It was both a heated and hilarious exchange between Tucker and Wanda at the same time. It was just the start of Durant's day against Tucker, which ended with Durant scoring 28 points but making only nine of the 25 shots he attempted in the Bucks' 107-96 Game 4 victory. Trust me. However, the Bucks pushed the series to game-seven, where Tucker and Durant will have another opportunity to put everything on the line. Durant is averaging 36.6 points per game in three contests against the Rockets. Who Is Bryn Forbes Girlfriend and What Does She Do? src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. I love guarding him, said the 36-year-old Bucks forward. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, your username. No, no, no, not me. Welcome! I say, Im happy to be here. For real.. PJ Tucker on if he gets discouraged guarding Kevin Durant: "No. In 2018, Durants ESPN show "The Boardroom" had Rapaport on as a guest. But Tucker is making Durant work. PJ Tucker, on the other hand, prevailed in the end. In fact, Tucker and Durant faced each other in the conference semis . Abhishek is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports with over two years of It is undeniable that PJ and Durant have had their fair share of viral clips over the years where the two get into it during games. Tucker (17) reacts after a play against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals series at FTX Arena in Miami on May 25, 2022. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. There has been happiness, tears, injuries, clutch moments, fights and even record-breaking games, but the spirit of the game and the love has been what matters at the end of the day. Can you name every NBA starting player (according to ESPN.com)? Over there, it aint dropping 30 every night and being the man. PJ Tucker opens up on Kevin Durant and their fierce competition. Tucker and Durant were engaged in a serious duel throughout the series. Tucker finally had the last laugh in this long-standing battle with Kevin Durant as the Milwaukee Bucks advance to the Eastern Conference Finals . Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. He was able to have more face time with KD on the court during last seasons second round, when the Nets faced the Milwaukee Bucks. Carlos Garcia, Game 7 6/20/2021. Both players are around the same height and weight, and both have played for several different teams throughout their careers. Tucker was a freshman when Durant was a sophomore and the two formed a formidable partnership on the court. , I try to help guys who are on the brink of getting out. During the Nets second-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks last season, he had numerous more interactions with KD. Im fighting for every inch. Tucker is relishing the daunting challenge. Tucker fouled Kevin Durant, who sank both free throws while his mother sat nearby. People see us fight, but they dont know we talk about regular stuff too. I was like, I am going to turn this money down? It was for way less money, Tucker said. This is supposed to be Americas sweetheart right? Thats not really what I want people to see and hear from me," Durant said. PJ told his mother that he is very happy with his current situation with the Houston Rockets. I was done fighting, trying to prove myself, Tucker said. "I'm not the first one to get traded or ask for a trade. It is a reminder that even though players may move on to different teams and different levels of competition, the bonds they form during their time in college can last a lifetime. Returning to the court after recovering from a knee injury . He said he learned how to play professional basketball while overseas. Theyre down 2. It is impossible to overestimate the friendship between Kyrie and Kevin. Tuckers mother, Sharon, is a retired teacher. After his junior season, Tucker was a second-team All-American and the Big 12 Player of the Year. F inal. I told Rick Barnes on his visit when he was a junior in high school, hes going to be the best player Ive ever seen in my life., Sign up for the Nets Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. I was like his prodigy. Tucker was so intense that even KD's mom had to step in and call him out after a hard foul. Report this User. "It's basketball. The man deserves a raise. There is still uncertainty about whether or not Kyrie Irving will play in Game Seven on Wednesday, but he is expected to. I cant believe TNT caught it. Furkan Korkmaz remains out due to personal reasons. Tucker is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Im like, yeah, you right. Tucker of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round playoff series at the Fiserv Forum on .