He said he learned how to play professional basketball while overseas. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Interest-Based Ads | EU Privacy Rights | Cookie Policy | Manage Preferences. There aren't many guys who can get under Durant's skin when he has the ball in his hands. Me and Kevin fight every year I love guarding him. However, several league sources say Tucker will choose the Sixers' three-year, $30 million offer over opportunities to remain in Miami or go back to Milwaukee after free agency begins at 6 p.m . Seven years later, Tucker is still in the NBA and guarding Durant. Log into your account. Most of the guys who think like that dont last over there. , 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. 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. Dan Canova is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital. Jackson State. If you are a Nets and Bucks fan that is currently tensed up in your living room, be sure to watch this video to help calm you down. My [NBA] minimum was so low. , I try to help guys who are on the brink of getting out. But somebody has to do it. NBA Trade Rumors: Insider Believes Rift Between Anthony Davis and LeBron James Could Leave to DallasMavericksMove. 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. Vote For Luka Doni To Make The 2020 NBA All-Star Team! I got successful. Tucker was crucial for the Bucks as he started 19 of the 23 games he played in the playoffs. He will be playing alongside Devin Booker, a player he has been following since college. Following a win in Game 6 over the Nets, Milwaukee Bucks forward PJ Tucker praised Kevin Durant. They're very close friends and care so much for one another. 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. I said I love you mom and she right in stride, she says I love you too. I was done fighting, trying to prove myself, Tucker said. What did Kevin Durant's mother say to PJ Tucker? If they are not related, they are still close friends who have a lot of respect for each other. Kevin Durant and P.J. The man deserves a raise. I dont understand all this little stuff. LeBron James: Spoiled Or Inspiring Role Model? This article first appeared on Sideline Sources and was syndicated with permission. That was a battle every single night. Vin Diesel and Post Malone Onboard to Feature at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, Is Giannis Antetokounmpo Playing Tonight Against the Bulls? However, the Longhorns are different. Tucker and Blanks were actually friends with University of Texas ties. Today was no different. PJ Tucker on his relationship with Kevin Durant: Every year, we have a fight. Aldridge played for the Longhorns from 2002-2006, while Durant played for the Longhorns from 2006-2007. I dont know if Ive ever brought that much every single night, physically, emotionally, it was a toll. Copyright 2023 YB Media, LLC. While Tucker fully expected to play in Russia in the fall of 2012, he accepted an offer from the Phoenix Suns to play for their summer league team. Kevin Durant and PJ Tucker are alumni of the same college in Texas. The Bucks beat the Nets to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals after two years, eliminating the biggest favorite to the title. Tucker went from one-and-done in the NBA to an eight-year veteran who has made $26 million in the league. Rapaport later posted a clip from the show of the two talking about seats for the NBA Finals while Durant was with the Golden State Warriors. Durant is averaging 36.6 points per game in three contests against the Rockets. Wanda Durant unbuttoned her mask and declared, This is basketball, not football. He looked over to Durants mother and kissed her on the cheek, and she responded, I love you too. In the final seconds of the third period, he tied the game with a game-tying goal. However, it wasnt enough as the Nets crashed out of the series by losing 115111 in overtime. Kevin Durants idol and strongest support is his mom. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports. Durant even had a 49 point triple-double performance in the series where he played all 48 minutes. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Who are Kevin and Tucker friends? 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." However, this hasn't stopped Durant from lighting it up in the series. The Real MVP trash talk between Mama Durant and PJ Tucker revealed. Recently, Shirley had the opportunity to speak with her son about his career. You cant help but smile after watching that light-hearted interaction. Tucker, who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks, told TMZ Sports on Wednesday that hes on Durants side. 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. 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. your username. WATCH THIS STORY: Butting Heads with LeBron James & All the Other Times Kevin Durant Showed His Anger. Kevin Durant scored 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting in his Suns debut, helping Phoenix snap the Charlotte Hornets' five-game winning streak with a wire-to-wire 105-91 victory Wednesday night. journalistic experience with Chase Your Sport and Dribl. Bettors are focusing on the latter. 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 . I enjoy it; hes the best scorer Ive ever seen in my life Thats my brother. The media could not be played. Durant and Rapaport have had a relationship in the past. A mic'd-up P.J. New conversation. 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. Josef Castillo is a basketball coach and the owner of a basketball blog called bashabearsbasketball.com. I say, Im happy to be here. For real.. LaMarcus Aldridge is one of the NBAs all-time great players. Tuckers gamble paid off, as he made the Suns roster for the 2012-13 season. I love what I do. KDs mom was seen shooting words at Tucker for hurting her son. The prospect of recruiting the nations second-best player was something that every coach wanted to pursue. They care about winning over there. 641 Retweets. They always push each other on the court, which is a big part of their chemistry. But no one could decipher what Tucker really said to Wanda. Lamarcus Aldridge and Kevin Durant both played college basketball for the Texas Longhorns, but not at the same time. Nobody wants to do that. PJ Tucker and Kevin Durant are two professional basketball players who have played together on multiple teams throughout their careers. graduate, he has previously interned in the Indian Super League, I-League and Is Luka Doncics Health At Risk? All rights reserved. Tucker and Durant were engaged in a serious duel throughout the series. . You have to learn how to play over there. The Bucks and Nets found themselves in a rock fight on Thursday, with Milwaukee taking an early 30-9 . 291 replies 641 retweets 4,763 likes. After coming back from a 28-point deficit on Friday, Mikal Bridges feels that offense isn't the issue for the Nets. Tucker during on-court dispute. Tucker: First debit card I ever had was because of eBay so I could buy shoes, The complete and insane list of P.J. Kevin Durant And PJ Tucker Got Into It After A Foul And A Nets Security Guard Pushed Tucker. Tonight, Kevin Durant will take the floor for the first time as . Tucker said he sees the NBA through a different lens now and truly appreciates every single game he plays. I remember it. Trending Author: Aldridge was named to the NBA All-Star team in 2013 and 2015, as well as to the 2013 and 2017 All-Star teams. In addition to being close friends, Kyrie and Kevin have dealt with a lot together. Alex Hinton breaks down his top NBA player prop picks for Wednesday, March 1, including plays on Donovan Mitchell and Jimmy Butler. Although P.J. pic.twitter.com/wB4IvtAUxv. And . your password Dan used to sic me on people. NBA player P.J. PJ continued telling reporters about the respect he has for Durant. 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. All rights reserved. Kelly Olynyk, Full Spectrum Services LLP 2022 | All Rights Reserved. Obviously Durant didn't see Draymond's tweet, but the Nets star immediately hit two big 3-pointers, with the second shot tying the game 57-57. 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. This is something I want to do. Kevin Durant was the most widely regarded prospect among all forwards in the 2003 NBA draft. Even with a couple of slow games against the Los Angeles Clippers, Durant wasn't really bothered by the defense or antics of Patrick . 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. EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 14: PJ Tucker #44 handles the ball during a scrimmage at the 2019 USA Men's National Team World Cup training camp at UCLA Health Training Center on August 14, 2019 . New team, same Kevin Durant. More on this storyline. Download and subscribe to the Dubs Talk Podcast, Draymond has hilarious reaction to KD-Tucker skirmish, Draymond's praise of Nets doesn't diminish Warriors' dynasty. In fact, Tucker and Durant faced each other in the conference semis last season. I respect [Los Angeles Clippers guard] Pat [Beverley] for stepping up and saying, I got him [in the first round]. However, the Bucks pushed the series to game-seven, where Tucker and Durant will have another opportunity to put everything on the line. The two-time NBA champion talked about what he likes in Booker's game and what he expects from playing on the same team with him. He even held him to 3-for-12 shooting while being his primary defender in game-four of the series. Tucker was a freshman when Durant was a sophomore and the two formed a formidable partnership on the court. 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 . But Tucker said his wife, Tracy, and his agent told him he should give the league one more try. However, this hasnt stopped Durant from lighting it up in the series. It sounds crazy, but this is my dream. The former Houston Rockets had incredible duels . P.J. "The Snake himself is now threatening me, bringing up my wife and wants to fight. Milwaukee Bucks forward P.J. There is still uncertainty about whether or not Kyrie Irving will play in Game Seven on Wednesday, but he is expected to. He told the 36-year-old that he was an NBA All-Star level player as a junior in high school. The former University of Texas star was the 35th overall pick in the second round of the 2006 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors. I got drafted by Toronto, but they just took me because I was the best man on the board. Tucker is siding with Brooklyn Nets starKevin Durant. He doesnt have a position. I knew I could play. Draymond has hilarious reaction to KD-Tucker skirmish. I didnt get a whole lot of help or guidance. He only made it to the NCAA tournament once. But he will play it as if it were his last. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasnt been able to in years and his knees still hurt. Tucker delightfully complimented Kevin Durant after getting scored on. Despite Tucker's solid defense, Durant still scored 32 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Milwaukee Bucks forward P.J. He is great friends - "brothers," in his words - with Nets star Kevin Durant, and adding a player of Tucker's ilk would provide a much-needed toughness and frontcourt floor spacing to a . "I'm not the first one to get traded or ask for a trade. PJs mother was very happy to hear her sons positive attitude about his career and life in general. My bad., A post shared by Sideline Sources (@sidelinesources). His career averages include 22.1 points, 10.3 assists, and 2.2 boards per game. Report: Kevin Durant's 'personal bodyguard' pushed P.J. I went from 15th man and non-guarantee contracts to starting. If youre a winner, you can play forever over there.. The most hyped prospect since the 2003 draft class was Kevin Durant. PJ Tucker is listed as Probable due to calf tightness after missing the second half of Monday's game. Although Tucker didnt average eye-popping numbers (5.8 points and 6.2 rebounds in 21.6 minutes per game), then-Suns summer league coach and former Suns star Dan Majerle loved him. Always free! 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 . If NBA broadcasters ever wanted to offer an uncensored, mic'd-up option to watch entire games, people would . PJ Tucker tell JJ Redick what exactly he said to Kevin Durant's mom during The Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks playoff game. They have won multiple championships together, and their friendship has been well-documented. PJ Tucker on if he gets discouraged guarding Kevin Durant: "No. In 2012, he led Brose Baskets Bamberg to a Basketball Bundesliga championship in Germany after averaging 16.2 points and 7.1 rebounds and earned Finals MVP honors. Learn more and register here. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. 4,763 Likes. H's gnna scre 50." Throughout the series, he's averaging 33.3 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 5.3 APG while having a 50.3 FG% and 34.9 3PT%. USA TODAY. When asked about how it feels to guard someone as close to unstoppable as KD, Tucker said, Its painful. Tucker (17) in the first quarter during game seven in the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. While his agent Andre Buck put an NBA out clause in the deal, Tucker was content being a star overseas. However, since joining the NBA, the duo has faced each other on several big occasions. Kevin Durant felt he "fit in pretty well" during an impressive Phoenix Suns debut against the Charlotte Hornets but still feels under pressure to prove himself.. Durant scored 23 points in his first appearance for the Suns in a 105-91 win over the Hornets on Wednesday following his blockbuster trade from the Brooklyn Nets last month.. "It's basketball. Getty Brooklyn's Kevin Durant and Milwaukee's P.J. The two have complementary skillsets that have helped them form a successful partnership both on and off the court. Kevin Durant and PJ Tucker got right into each other's faces. PJ also spoke about how much he loves living in Houston. I signed a two-year deal in Russia for all the money. Im thinking Im all-world, and that is how every college guy thinks that coming in. Welcome! Then, in the offseason, the 76ers lured veteran power forward P.J. But now Dan is like a big brother to me. This of course, was a result of competitive spirit and nothing more as the two are great friends off the court. Kevin and Kyrie have been close friends since their days together, as they have both been through rough times. Furkan Korkmaz remains out due to personal reasons. That was one of the worst years of my life, Tucker said. We dream about this our whole lives. over the years where the two get into it during games. The 34-year-old says it is important for him to share his story with young players, especially when they get frustrated or their egos get in the way. 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. 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. All rights reserved. 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. I dont know what people think. I'm nt ging anywhere. #ImDaRealMVP. I was like his prodigy. A player like Kevin, theres no time off, you cant relax for one second. 2 min read. P.J. However, they were teammates on the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors, so its possible they are at least friendly. They went at it every single game, showing their competitive spirits in every single game. Thats why the day seemed so long. 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.