At the ripe age of 39, P.J. Tucker is showing no signs of slowing down in the NBA. The seasoned veteran, who will turn 40 next May, is the second-oldest active player in the league, behind only the legendary LeBron James. With James set to hit the big 4-0 milestone at the end of December, Tucker will soon take over the title as the oldest player in the NBA.
Despite his age, Tucker has decided to stick with the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2024-25 season, opting to pick up his player option for a cool $11.5 million. This move comes as no surprise, as it is unlikely Tucker would receive anything more than the veteran’s minimum if he were to hit the open market. While there was speculation that the Clippers might look to move on from Tucker, it appears that he will don the Clippers uniform on opening night.
Law Murray, a writer for The Athletic covering the Clippers, recently mentioned Tucker in an article about the official ribbon cutting for the Intuit Dome. Murray noted that there are not many teams with open roster spots at this point in the offseason, with many clubs holding off due to salary cap concerns. Tucker, despite his experience and championship pedigree, is not seen as an $11.5 million player in today’s NBA landscape.
Tucker’s journey to the Clippers was not without its bumps. In the 2022 offseason, he signed a three-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, only to be traded to the Clippers alongside James Harden early in the 2023-24 season. After initially seeing playing time in the first 12 games post-trade, Tucker found himself glued to the bench for a staggering 38 games straight. The former Milwaukee Bucks champion grew disillusioned with his lack of minutes, publicly requesting a trade and incurring a hefty $75,000 fine from the NBA.
Despite the adversity he faced last season, Tucker’s decision to remain with the Clippers signals his commitment to the team and his desire to make an impact in the upcoming season. As one of the oldest players in the league, Tucker continues to defy Father Time and prove that age is just a number in the game of basketball. It will be intriguing to see how his veteran presence benefits the Clippers in the 2024-25 campaign.