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I feel like if you go back to the NBA, you have a different impact. Is that something you have in mind, to go back to the NBA with a different status? Talen Horton-Tucker: I wouldn’t say that, but I just feel like I know if I did go back to the NBA, I would be a lot better than I was when I was there. Just understanding the game a little bit more, understanding pace and timing, thinking the game a lot easier, and not making the game harder on myself. Just being over here has taught me how to be a little bit more efficient with my scoring, knowing how to play the game, and knowing how to manipulate the game. It’s definitely something that I know, if I took back to the NBA level, I could show that my growth here really helped and paid off. When that time comes, and the decision for me to be here or to go back comes, I’ll definitely think about a lot of things like that, too.
“I’m a LeBron fan,” Horton-Tucker said. “I seen more LeBron growing up and then LeBron actually, playing with LeBron definitely showed me a lot about him. Just knowing that the type of person that he is and how much he actually puts into the game, it’s great.” He didn’t stop there. When asked for his GOAT take, the Chicago product—raised in the same city that worships Michael Jordan—landed on a clear stance: “1A’s LeBron.”
In a BasketNews Film Session with Donatas Urbonas, Talen Horton-Tucker explained why he believes he’s currently not in the NBA, saying he’s often misunderstood because of his different body type, which he named as one of the biggest reasons. "I could probably say, just with me having a different type of body type, I get misunderstood for the type of archetype that I have," Horton-Tucker said. "Me, being a bigger guard and being 230, 240, you know, it’s a misconception of me being in shape or out of shape, and things like that."
Talen Horton-Tucker: "I just feel like a lot of people don’t understand the way my body is, and they’re not used to it," he noted. "So when people aren’t used to something, they can be afraid of it. I’m not the typical skinny basketball player, you know what I mean? I’m bigger, and I’m able to move and carry my weight a lot differently. I really just feel like I’m misunderstood. And then probably also improving my three-point shooting—and actually shooting a lot more threes—is something that I feel, if I was able to show in the NBA, the conversation would probably be a little bit different."
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After six seasons in the NBA, Talen Horton-Tucker has indeed agreed to a deal to play for perennial Turkish power Fenerbahçe. Yet the offer, I'm told, came with a 21-day window for Horton-Tucker to continue to search for an NBA deal before formally joining the EuroLeague club.
EuroLeague champions Fenerbahce Istanbul are finalizing a deal with six-year NBA guard Talen Horton-Tucker, sources tell BasketNews. According to BasketNews sources, the 24-year-old guard is down to two options: land in Istanbul or secure a spot on an NBA roster, with a window still open for that possibility.
When Talen Horton-Tucker walks into the United Center, it’s more than just another arena. It’s home. It’s where the echoes of his childhood ring from the 300 level to the locker room. Where Bulls legends once roamed and where, now, a hometown kid is adding to the story. The Chicago native has gone from watching Bulls games on WGN in his living room to lacing up for his city, and this season, that connection is deeper than ever. Asked what’s sparked the Bulls’ midseason turnaround, Horton-Tucker didn’t hesitate. “Just the way we’re playing together,” he said. “Just being able to stay united through the ups and downs of the season.” That unity has been critical. Through injuries, tough stretches, and outside doubt, the Bulls have fought to remain relevant in the tightly contested Eastern Conference. For THT, it’s not just about wins and losses—it’s about representing Chicago with heart.
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And the pride of playing for his hometown team? That hits different. “It’s a dream,” Horton-Tucker said, smiling. “And being able to live your dream to play for your home team is super fun and being able to do it and being part of the success is good!” He grew up watching Bulls basketball from every angle—before, during, and after the Derrick Rose era. THT might not have seen Michael Jordan live, but he saw the legacy in real time through the eyes of his family. “The Bulls I used to watch on WGN (Channel 9) in my house almost every day the Bulls came on; pre-Derrick Rose, during Derrick Rose, after Derrick Rose,” he recalled. “I’m a 2000’s kid so I didn’t Jordan play live but, my mom and my brother would show and explain it to me.”
KC Johnson: Bulls 137, Raptors 118 Bulls clinch play-in spot White 28 pts, 6 assists Horton-Tucker 25 pts (season high) Vucevic 22 pts, 10 rebs, 7 assists Giddey 17 pts, 12 assists, 7 rebs Huerter 16 pts; 7-9 FGs Bulls 56.8% FG and 36 assists
