Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker has been suspended for the first three games of season following a May arrest for driving under the influence, the league has announced. Tucker was charged with "super extreme DUI" when the 29-year-old registered a blood-alcohol level of .222 after being pulled over by Scottsdale Police.
P.J. Tucker suspended first 3 games of NBA season
The Suns will need to find a way to get by without their veteran small forward for the start of the season.
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Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
Tucker signed a new three-year, $16.5 million contract during free agency in July and is expected to again be Phoenix’s starting small forward. Last season was something of a career-year for Tucker as he finally settled into an NBA role after years of bouncing around overseas. Tucker averaged 9.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game to go along with 38.7-percent shooting from three-point range across 81 starts.
Veteran Gerald Green and rookie first-round pick T.J. Warren will be expected to fill in at small forward while Tucker is out. The Suns won 48 games in the Western Conference a year ago despite failing to make the playoffs, and added point guard Isaiah Thomas in free agency. The status of restricted free-agent point guard Eric Bledsoe remains unresolved.
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