Phoenix Suns’ P.J. Tucker shows his softer side
Mar 22, 2014, 12:14 AM | Updated: 12:14 am
PHOENIX — He plays with an intensity and a physicality that is unmatched in the NBA.
That is P.J. Tucker on the court.
However, P.J. Tucker off the court is a loving husband and caring father of two.
He displayed that softer side prior to shootaround Friday morning, delivering breakfast sandwiches and get-well cards to those ASU alums who work for the Phoenix Suns inside US Airways Center.
By the way, Tucker played his college ball at Texas, which won its second round NCAA Tournament game at the expense of the Sun Devils.
“I just wanted to make sure I took care of them,” he said. “I know they hadn’t been to the tournament in a while. It hurts a little bit but it’s great that they made it. They’re a good team. It was a great game.”
Texas beat ASU 87-85 on center Cameron Ridley’s putback of a missed three at the buzzer.
“Nobody wanted to watch it with me,” Tucker said. “See, that’s the funny thing. They’re so happy to make it, but they don’t want to watch it with you…because then they want to call you afterwards. When they were up early — they were playing well, I got a lot of calls and text messages, but after the game not so much.”
Tucker estimated he bought breakfast for 25 people, including several in the front office.
The former Sun Devil who took the loss the hardest, though, appeared to be longtime equipment manager Jay Gaspar.
“Jay didn’t take it so well,” Tucker said. “I think Jay might’ve taken it worse than anybody. Jay was not happy. I can’t even say what he sent me but he was pretty mad.”
