SO LONG, P.J.

P.J. Tucker posts emotional farewell to Houston on Instagram

Tucker is headed to the Bucks. Photo by Getty Images.

P.J. Tucker will soon become a Buck after being traded on Wednesday, per Adrian Wojnarowski. The Rockets will receive D.J. Augustin, 7'3 D.J. Wilson, and a 2023 unprotected first-round pick. Besides Tucker heading to the Bucks, Rodions Kurucs and the Bucks' former 2022 first-round pick is going to Milwaukee too. The Rockets even received a pick swap in this year's 2021 NBA Draft if the pick falls under one through nine.

Tucker recently turned down a two-year extension to stay with the Rockets.

Even though Tucker is leaving, he still created great memories and gritty plays. Tucker was the iron man and juggernaut for the Rockets four-years straight. Anything that needed to be done defensively for the Rockets, Tucker became the solution. If it was guarding 6'10 Anthony Davis, defending the toughest player on the floor, and snatching offensive rebounds, Tucker did it. Tucker led the NBA in corner three-point shots during the 2019-2020 season. James Harden could always depend on Tucker when it mattered.

P.J. became the voice of the Rockets' defense. He made sure everyone knew their assignments. Tucker's communication helped guide the Rockets to having one of the best defenses in the 2017-2018 season. Mike D'Antoni refereed to Tucker as a linebacker on the Rockets' defense.

Tucker also brought drip inside the Rockets' locker room when it came to clothes and sneakers. Walking down the tunnel with Harden in the 2017-2018 season became a thing for those two. Tucker also competed with other NBA players around the league for sneaker notices. Chris Paul and Tucker had a friendly locker room battle of finding the most bizarre sneakers. I remember personally being amazed by the different kind of sneakers Tucker had inside his locker.

PJ Tucker vs James Harden - Who's the Better Dresser? | PROPSyoutu.be


In the past, as I talked to Rockets fans around Houston, they always refereed to P.J. Tucker as their favorite player on the team. The support system Tucker had in Houston was incredible. Tucker loved giving back to the Houston community when it came auctioning off his sneakers and creating a clothing collection to benefit the Houston Food Bank. People in Houston loved Tucker's grit, grind, hustle, and competitiveness on the court.

P.J. Tucker, eBay auctioning exclusive sneakers, gifts for charity


P.J. Tucker, eBay auctioning exclusive sneakers, gifts for charitywww.thedreamshake.com


Rare sneakers, an autographed jersey, and a basketball signed by the entire Rockets team are all up for auction.

Hopefully, Tucker enjoys his new journey with the Bucks, so he can compete in the Finals.

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM
A new hotel is in the works near Minute Maid. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images

Astros owner Jim Crane says the team is ready to break ground on a major construction project that will include a hotel and entertainment complex across the street from Minute Maid Park as soon as the 2023 baseball season wraps up – hopefully with another World Series parade in downtown Houston.

AstrosWorld!

But another hotel? Another entertainment complex? More construction downtown? My first reaction was, how much more does Houston need? I remember when the Super Bowl was held in Houston in 2004, clubs and restaurants sprung up downtown practically overnight, only to disappear virtually the morning after. When it came to downtown development, the expression “less is more” turned out true. At least that Super Bowl.

I asked my contacts in government and the Houston welcome wagon, is this a good idea, building a hotel and entertainment complex next door to Minute Maid Park? Do we need it? Can we sustain it?

The answer every time was a resounding yes! For a couple of reasons: first, downtown Houston, coming out of Covid, is booming, leadership is creative and budget-minded these days, and most important, if Jim Crane is behind the idea, you can trust it’ll work. The guy’s got a track record.

“In 2004, the idea was to turn downtown’s Main Street into Bourbon Street. Is that what we really want? It was a misguided plan, the wrong philosophy, and businesses opened and closed in short order,” a source told me.

It was a different story when the Super Bowl returned to Houston in 2017. This time Houston saw the Marriott Marquis, a 1,000-room hotel complete with an iconic Texas-shaped swimming pool, open in time for the tourist onslaught. Also, Avenida Houston greeted downtown visitors with new restaurants and entertainment venues. Both the Marriott and Avenida Houston have continued to thrive long after the Super Bowl left town.

“We want our downtown to attract visitors while providing services for the growing number of singles and families who are making their home downtown. As we continue to host major events and conventions, there will be a need for more hotel rooms,” the source said.

The Astros’ plan to build a sprawling hotel and entertainment complex originally was discussed in 2021 but was put on hold due to Covid. Now Crane and the Astros are ready to come out swinging. Similar complexes operate successfully next to the baseball stadium in St. Louis, Chicago and other cities.

An Astros-themed hotel adjacent to Minute Maid Park is particularly intriguing. The lobby could be home to an Astros museum and team Hall of Fame. Rooms and restaurants could be decorated in honor of Astros legends – the “Nolan Ryan honeymoon suite,” or “Strech Suba’s Bullpen Bar and Grille.” There could be meeting space for autograph and memorabilia shows. There could be a broadcast facility for post-game interviews and analysis. And maybe one day, fingers crossed, a betting parlor like the Cubs have at Wrigley Field.

The Astros have a contract to play at Minute Maid Park through 2050 – the only long-term contract that doesn’t make Crane cringe. Anything that enhances the fan experience and generates revenue is good for the team and the city. I might even consider going downtown on non-game nights.

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome