Texas basketball ex P.J. Tucker gets first career NBA title
A former standout two-way player out of the Texas basketball program found himself having a special night on July 20. Texas Ex and Milwaukee Bucks veteran forward P.J. Tucker got the first ring of his NBA career on the night of July 20 in his first season with the team. Tucker was traded from the Houston Rockets to the Bucks this season, and that seemed to be the change of scenery he needed.
Tucker had some deep playoff runs alongside superstar guard James Harden with the Rockets throughout the 2010s. But it only took him less than one full season with the Bucks to finally get over that postseason hump and get his first ring.
While Tucker played 36 minutes in this 105-98 win for the Bucks over the Phoenix Suns, he didn’t put up a single point. But like usual for Tucker, he did a lot of things well behind the scenes. Tucker did register six rebounds, one assist, and one steal while putting up a +13 in his time on the floor.
Tucker did see the former back-to-back MVP and Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo have a historic NBA Finals performance on this night. Giannis registered 50 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks, in this Bucks win over the Suns.
Standout former Texas basketball F P.J. Tucker gets his first ring with the Bucks
Moreover, this is a great underdog story for Tucker the entire way in his NBA career. He’s gone from being an overlooked undrafted free agent signing to a coveted veteran role player that has made multiple postseason appearances. And he finally got a ring to go along with all of the hard work he’s put in since his days with the Longhorns at the college ranks.
Tucker started in 18 of the 22 postseason games for the Bucks this year. But he did a lot of the dirty work for the Bucks while the top trio of Giannis, point guard Jrue Holiday, and shooting guard/small forward Khris Middleton stole the show offensively.
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On his way to winning this NBA Finals series with the Bucks, Tucker had to knock off a fellow former Longhorn in the Brooklyn Nets superstar forward Kevin Durant. That might actually be the closest postseason series for the Bucks when they downed the Nets in the second round of the playoffs.