Though today’s athletes are constantly pushing the limits of longevity in the sport, 20 years is still a very long time to be a professional basketball player. Any athlete who can sustain a career for that stretch of time is special, even if they’re not a household name. 

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And while PJ Tucker may not be a household name among casual NBA viewers, he’s certainly a fan-favorite among the league’s faithful. Known for his seemingly endless sneaker collection, his ability to contribute to just about any team, and his determination to just keep playing, Tucker’s career has taken him everywhere. Now, after two decades and eight NBA teams (two of which are still playing in the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBA and Peacock), he’s ready to hang it up. 

On May 7, in a post to his official Instagram, the 41-year-old Tucker announced his decision to retire from the NBA, 20 years almost to the month from the time he was drafted by the Toronto Raptors in 2006. 

“20 years being my job but 40 plus years of not being able to fathom doing anything other than it,” Tucker wrote. “So here’s to retiring from the NBA… because I will NEVER stop ballin.”

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PJ Tucker’s basketball career, from college to an NBA ChampionshipWhere is P.J. Tucker from and where did he go to college?

A native of North Carolina, Tucker spent his college playing years at the University of Texas, where he exploded in his junior year, earning Big 12 Player of the Year honors and a selection as a consensus second team All-American in his final season with the Longhorns. 

Where was P.J. Tucker drafted, and where did he play professionally before the NBA?

In 2006, the 6’5″ forward entered the NBA Draft, where the Raptors picked him up in the second round. Tucker didn’t get much NBA playing time in his rookie season, and spent some time in the G League before taking his talents overseas to continue to develop as a player. From 2007 to 2012 he played in Israel, Ukraine, Germany, Italy, and more, and built up quite the trophy case with multiple league championships and MVP honors. But he also never left the NBA completely behind, and in 2012 he returned to the league with the Phoenix Suns. 

PJ Tucker’s NBA career with 8 different teams, including winning a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks

Between 2012 and 2025, Tucker played for eight different NBA teams, including the Suns, the Raptors (again), the Rockets, the Heat, the 76ers, the Clippers, and finally, the New York Knicks. His NBA pinnacle, though, came in the back half of the 2021 season, when he briefly signed with the Milwaukee Bucks during what would become an NBA championship run. His skills as a defender made him a major player in the Bucks’ postseason that year, and netted the only NBA Finals ring of his career. His final NBA game came in 2025, before the Knicks declined his option, effectively sidelining him for the 2025-2026 season. 

PJ Tucker’s legacy and future

A fan-favorite in Phoenix, Milwaukee, New York, and beyond, Tucker became known throughout his career for his colorful, nonstop rotation of shoes, setting him up as one of the NBA’s premier Sneakerheads. He was known for wearing dozens of different pairs in a single season, and once said he kept at least two dozen pairs in his locker at any given time.

He was also known for his tenacity. When the NBA sent him down to development, he played G League. When he didn’t go back to the league, he went international, and when the league came calling again he returned to the States and just never stopped finding ways to make an impression. As for what’s next, well, Tucker hasn’t said yet, but his love for basketball is infectious, so don’t expect this to be the end of his association with the game.