Tobias Harris Sounds Off On PJ Tucker’s Critics

All season long, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers has been trying to hammer down the fact that PJ Tucker holds a lot more value than spectators tend to understand. Sixers’ forward Tobias Harris is the latest to join the trend, calling out Tucker’s biggest critics.

Since Tucker signed his multi-year deal with the Sixers, many expected him to become a scorer he’s never been. Since 2012, Tucker has averaged seven points across 760 games. While the four points per game he currently averages on the Sixers is lower than the eight points per game he gave to the Miami Heat last year, Harris and the Sixers know firsthand his value goes beyond the box score.

“When anybody talks about the points scored is an idiot just because there isn’t much opportunity for him to go out and average eight or nine points,” Tobias Harris said, according to Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire. “The man shoots the ball two times a game, so that’s a (expletive) claim. He’s a guy who’s a winner, and every big game we’re in, those big teams and games that we play that felt like playoff environments, he’s out there making an impact. That’s where his game shines the most.”

The Sixers didn’t sign PJ Tucker expecting him to become one of their go-to scorers. They signed him for defensive purposes, vocal leadership, and championship experience while being confident in the fact that he can stretch the floor since he’s able to knock down corner threes.

Tucker’s stint in Philly started shaky as he recovered from an offseason surgery and got used to being in a different system for the fourth time in two seasons.

Lately, though, Tucker has shown flashes of the guy the Sixers had trouble against in the second round of the playoffs last year, which is a primary reason they went out and acquired him in the first place.

The stat sheets won’t help to reveal Tucker’s value to the Sixers. But clearly, a lot of the criticism thrown his way isn’t warranted since former teammates and coaches of Tucker’s have defended him countless times, while the Sixers are now doing the same as the season progresses.

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.

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