P.J. Tucker Announces NBA Retirement

P.J. Tucker, a veteran NBA forward known for his defensive tenacity and longevity, announced his retirement from professional basketball on Thursday via an Instagram post.

The 41-year-old Tucker reflected on a career spanning nearly two decades, including 14 NBA seasons across eight franchises. Drafted 35th overall by the Toronto Raptors in 2006 out of the University of Texas, he appeared in just 17 games as a rookie before being waived in 2007. Tucker then spent five years overseas, honing his skills before returning to the NBA with the Phoenix Suns ahead of the 2012-13 season.

He rejoined Toronto briefly in 2017, then signed with the Houston Rockets as a free agent that offseason. Traded to the Milwaukee Bucks before the 2021 deadline, Tucker played a key role in their championship run, their first title in 50 years. Subsequent stops included the Miami Heat for three seasons, the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, Toronto Raptors again, and New York Knicks. Waived by Toronto in February 2025 after a trade, he signed with the Knicks, who reached the Eastern Conference finals but declined his team option last summer.

Over 886 regular-season games, with 667...