Take a look at Clippers forward P.J. Tucker's game log for the 2023-24 season. It's not the most inspiring sight.
For each of the last six games, the 38-year-old has been a recipient of the dreaded "DNP-coach's decision" tag. His last game action came more than two weeks ago, on Nov. 27. More damningly, Los Angeles has won five of the six recent games in which he has not played.
Tucker addressed his status with the Clippers before they beat the Trail Blazers 132-127 at home Monday night.
“I don't have a role on this team right now. I'm not playing. I'm out of the lineup. It was a decision that was made, and I'm living with it right now. But obviously, I feel like I still got a lot to contribute to a team to be able to win, whether that's here or somewhere else," Tucker told Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints. "And here, it's just not there right now."
Tucker's minutes have fluctuated wildly in recent years, but he was a 30-minute-per-game player as recently as 2020 with the Rockets.
Over the course of an 18-year professional career, Tucker has played for the Raptors, the Suns, Houston, the Bucks (with whom he won the 2021 title), the Heat, the 76ers and Los Angeles. He also spent five seasons overseas, playing in Israeli, Ukrainian, Greek, Italian and German leagues from 2008-12.
"I know myself, my worth. I know what I bring,” Tucker told Azarly. “I know what I've brought. I know what I can continue to bring. And with that, I want to be able to go to a good team that I can be able to help that.”
