SACRAMENTO — P.J. Tucker understands his reputation as a hard-nosed player who is willing to vocalize displeasure.
He embraces it — “I’m just a realist,” Tucker said.
But the 39-year-old, who officially became a Knick on Monday, also is a voice of encouragement for struggling teammates, a trait that was brought up in the context of Mikal Bridges’ recent stumbles.
“I’ve been there. I know how it goes. It’s a long, long season. And when you’re in it, when you’re shooting bad, when it’s just not going right, you just need guys behind you to tell you those are good shots,” Tucker said. “Tell you to keep working. Keep doing this, keep doing that. Staying in that positivity. You need that. And a lot of times when you become a vet and be in the league, like young guys and stuff on the bench, they’re not going to do that. They’re not going to have your back like that. So it’s always good to have vets and like-minded guys that just have each other’s back. And that’s what really makes a team strong — just knowing that they have people there and I support you whether you’re playing good or bad. We’re in it together.”
Tucker’s wealth of winning NBA experience is unique to a locker room with only one rotational player in his 30s — Josh Hart, who just cracked 30 last week.
After sitting out all season while pushing for a trade from the Clippers, Tucker said he targeted the Knicks for his return in the buyout market.
He signed a 10-day contract Monday with an understanding that he’ll stick around for the remainder of the season and playoffs if all goes according to plan.
Tucker’s most important connection was as the longtime client of agent Leon Rose, who now runs the Knicks front office.
“There were a few [options]. That was the thing — just trying to pick the right place,” Tucker said. “I always felt like the Knicks were my first option throughout the whole process so I was happy to wait it out and be able to make that happen.”
Tucker indeed waited a long time to get back on an NBA court.
He was rostered by the Clippers for most of this season but left the team while the sides worked out a trade.
Tucker, who logged at least 81 games in five different seasons, was then dealt multiple times as salary filler before being waived and signing with the Knicks.
To stay sharp, Tucker said he trained all season in Houston and Philadelphia.
“It felt like I just got drafted again,” he said. “It’s like a whole new fresh energy, especially coming from home. It’s different. Trust me, it’s different.
“After missing hardly any time at all. So it gave me a different viewpoint, it made me appreciate it a lot more. Not that I’ve never appreciated it. But it gives that refreshing — like I feel like a kid again.”
On the court, Tucker was always a corner-3 specialist who operated with intensity on defense.
It’s fair to question how much he has in the tank — especially after such a long layoff — but Tucker assured he’s “cool earning my stripes again.”
The Knicks made a similar signing last season with Taj Gibson, who, contrary to plans, was forced into immediate action because of injuries.
Regardless, intense vocal leadership doesn’t fade away.
“Obviously we welcome that,” Hart said. “We want him to be who he is. They signed him for a reason. He has to keep doing what got him here and part of that is the leadership aspect and the vocal ability.”
It may help out the younger teammates in need of support, including Bridges, whose impact hasn’t come close to equaling the five first-round picks the Knicks gave up to acquire him.
Tucker’s advice started in the first morning shootaround.
“It’s actually easy [being a leader on a 10-day contract],” Tucker said. “Because most of the young guys — like right now before I came to talk to you [media] guys, we were sitting on the court and I was talking to guys, talking about the situation that’s going to happen [against the Kings], what the team needs, how we can get better, what we need to do.
“And so it’s funny how they kind of just come to you, gravitate to you, being that voice of reason.”