P.J. Tucker: Kevin Durant 'Busted Everybody’s Ass' in Texas Recruitment as a HS Senior

New York Knicks forward P.J. Tucker discussed his experience with Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant's scoring prowess during his high school days while recruiting him to play at Texas.

"He busted everybody’s ass," Tucker said, per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. "I was a junior. Durant was a senior in high school. He was about to come to Texas after his senior year. We played pick-up basketball and he destroyed everybody. He was the best player I had ever seen in my life."

Tucker played for the Longhorns from 2003-06, with Durant eventually suiting up for Texas during the team's 2006-07 campaign.

"We were the No. 1 team in the nation," Tucker said. "Our swag was on a million. I remember going in like, 'We’re really going to do this. National champions.' We were shooting ESPN covers, you know what I’m saying? LaMarcus (Aldridge) was fighting for the No. 1 pick. We had a lot going on. Durant came in there and absolutely … everything he does now, he was doing then. The s--t was … the hesi pull-up … the same s--t he’s doing now. He was doing fades. He’d get to the baseline and pull up. Listen, bro. I was like, 'Why is he coming here? He has no business coming here.'"

"It was the most unreal s--t ever," he added.

Durant was stellar throughout his lone year with the Longhorns, as his averages of 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game all led the Big 12. He became the first freshman to ever win men's Naismith College Player of the Year honors.

His incredible inaugural season at Texas led to his selection with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft, kicking off a career that eventually included 15 All-Star selections and two championships to go along with an MVP.

As for Tucker, he was initially chosen in the second round of the 2006 draft. He's played for eight teams throughout his career, winning a title with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.

Before both players were in the NBA, Tucker experienced Durant's deep offensive arsenal firsthand.