PJ Tucker is reportedly headed to the New York Knicks on a 10-day contract and no one is more excited than Josh Hart. While Tucker’s experience will provide the Knickerbockers with a solid bench option, it’s not the sole (pun intended) reason that Hart is eager to get the 39-year-old in New York.
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Tucker famously collects sneakers and has previously said that his collection is “easily” valued between $4-$5 million. And he has an abundance of Kobes in his collection. “Kobe understood functionality in basketball sneakers. And kinda putting everything together from the bottom soles to the cut. Every little detail he put his heart in,” he described once about the functionality and beauty in the design of the Kobes.
Tucker is not alone. Kobes are the most popular sneakers that players wear on the court in the NBA. Hart is a fan too, and quickly reminded Tucker about his collection of shoes while commenting on his pending arrival.
“Tell bro bring all them Kobes lol,” joked Hart on X. Hart, a big fan of the Black Mamba kicks, donned a pair of Nike Kobe 5 Protro Year of the Mambas when the Knicks traveled to Los Angeles to play the Lakers, according to Kixstats. While Hart looked good in the game, the Lakers went on to win in OT.
Tell bro bring all them Kobe’s lol https://t.co/4qLYtxZaAv
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) March 8, 2025
Tucker can hopefully give the Knicks a much needed spark in the absence of Jalen Brunson, even if he ends up distracting his teammates with his large sneaker collection.
Michael Jordan was once stunned by a pair of sneakers that Tucker had
Tucker’s sneaker game is so legendary that it even caught the attention of Michael Jordan. He once wore a pair of Shawn Marion Jordan 5 exclusives, meaning the shoes were made specifically for Marion to wear and not for sale to the public.
Somehow Tucker secured a pair, which caught the eye of His Airness when he saw him wearing them on the court. Legend has it that MJ asked Tucker where he got them.
“I’m literally in the corner and like, I just hear somebody calling my name. In NBA games, that happens all the time. But that voice was distinctive; I knew who it was,” Tucker told Joe La Puma during an appearance on Complex. “So as soon as I turned around and seen him, I couldn’t even respond.”
Tucker has had an extensive professional basketball career, including winning a ring with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. But his legacy for the game will forever be remembered for the incredible dedication to his beloved sneaker loft, which he built to fit all of his prized possessions. That was an idea that he compromised on to keep his wife happy.
