The Los Angeles Clippers’ P.J. Tucker scored his first points in an NBA game on Sunday afternoon since November 14, 2023. That stretch of 117 days saw Tucker mostly out of the rotation. The 38-year-old did play in nine total games during that scoreless stretch though. Playing about 12.2 minutes per game in those nine outings, he attempted just three total shots.
With both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard receiving a scheduled day off for the Clippers, Tucker was thrust into the starting lineup. In 26 minutes of action, the 13-year veteran scored seven points on 3-9 shooting (1-6 on threes). This was the first start for Tucker in a Clippers uniform.
The Clippers fell to the Milwaukee Bucks by the score of 124-117. They sit in fourth place in the Western Conference standings with a 41-22 record, 3.5 games behind the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
Veteran Clippers Player Scores First Points Since November
P.J. Tucker Was Acquired by the Clippers Along With Harden
On November 1, 2023, a three-team trade was consummated. It saw former MVP James Harden and Tucker shipped from the Philadelphia 76ers to join the Clippers.
After he received playing time in the 12 games after the trade, Tucker was taken out of the rotation. For nearly half a season (38 games), Tucker did not see the court spanning from November 29, 2023, until February 22, 2024. Tucker did then play in three straight before not getting off the bench for another four straight prior to yesterday.
Important Player at Previous Stops
Never a huge scorer in his career, many teams still saw Tucker’s value as evidenced by 660 starts in his 871 career regular season games. He has also been in the starting lineup for 89 of his career 102 postseason contests. His teams have reached the playoffs in each of the last seven seasons.
For his career in the regular season, he has averaged 6.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.1 steals. Despite being undersized, Tucker uses his wide body and grittiness on defense to make life challenging for the opposition.
In 2021, Tucker was traded from the Houston Rockets to the Bucks. Tucker played 29.6 minutes per game in that year’s postseason, one that saw Milwaukee with the NBA Championship.
After spending 2021-22 with the Miami Heat, Tucker joined the 76ers on a three-year deal worth a little over $33 million. The third year of the contract contains a player option.
Is There Any Doubt What P.J. Tucker Will Do With Player Option with Clippers Next Season?
Tucker has a player option for slightly more than $11.5 million for next season. It is safe to say he wouldn’t receive anything close to that in the open market. Minimum deals may be all that’s on the table after his value has taken a huge nosedive this season.
So unless P.J. Tucker is so fed up with not playing with the Clippers that he forgoes the guaranteed money, expect more sitting of the pine for the Clippers next season. He was actually fined $75,000 by the league in February for making a public trade request.
In his 19 games this season (three with Philadelphia), Tucker has averaged 1.4 points and 2.8 rebounds over 15.5 minutes per outing. Tucker will be turning 39 years old on May 5.
