The Pop has finally stopped after about two decades of professional play.
Former New York Knicks forward P.J. Tucker took to Instagram to announce his retirement from NBA play on Thursday. Tucker played the last of 14 NBA seasons with the Knicks last year, partaking in their first run to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2000.
“20 years being my job but 40-plus years of not being able to fathom doing anything other than it,” Tucker said in a caption of a montage of photos from his NBA career. “So here’s to retiring from the NBA… because I will NEVER stop ballin’.”
Tucker announced his retirement three days after his 41st birthday. He played only four games in a Knicks uniform after signing a series of 10-day deals last spring before inking a two-year contract where the latter year was declined. Tucker made one start with the Knicks, taking to the opening floor in last year’s victorious regular season finale against the Brooklyn Nets.
While his time on the Madison Square Garden floor was sparse, Tucker generated a cult following among Knicks fans and players alike for his veteran leadership and energy.
“He’s been around the league a long time and he has a lot of experience and so when he talks, we listen,” Jalen Brunson said last spring, per Jared Schwartz of the New York Post. “Having a guy like that on our team has been remarkable for us. He’s been fantastic since he’s been there.”
“He brought that championship pedigree to us. He deserves a big shout-out,” Josh Hart added in the same report. “He’s just someone that always talks to us. He’s a champion and he’s bringing that mentality.”
Tucker originally entered the league as a second-round pick of Toronto’s in 2006. After 17 games with the Raptors, he would go on to make a name for himself on the international circuit, winning MVP titles and All-Star bids in Germany, Israel, and Ukraine. He returned to the Association in 2012 and played five seasons with the Phoenix Suns, becoming a reliable interior presence for the next decade-plus.
In addition to the Knicks, Raptors, and Suns, Tucker also took the floor for Houston, Philadelphia, Miami, Milwaukee, and the Los Angeles Clippers. He is perhaps best-known for his role in the Milwaukee Bucks’ run to the 2021 championship, as his work on the defensive front helped procure advancement. Tucker ends his career averaging 6.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 886 appearances.
