By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Talen Horton-Tucker has been one of the standout players in the EuroLeague this season. Despite it being his first year in the competition, the American guard has adapted quickly and currently leads Fenerbahce as its top scorer.
As one of the rising stars of the EuroLeague, Horton-Tucker gave an exclusive interview to S Sport ahead of the Playoffs.
Speaking about the well-known “first-place curse” in the EuroLeague, he said:
“I don’t believe in the first-place curse, but since we didn’t finish first, maybe I do now (laughs). Honestly, I wanted that top spot—we all wanted to finish as high as possible. Still, we stayed in the top four and secured home-court advantage, which is important for us. Now we’ll try to make the most of it.”
On his teammate Nicolo Melli:
“Melli is a great person. It’s amazing to play alongside someone who has experienced everything in Europe and also has NBA experience. For players like us—young guys and those in their first EuroLeague season—there’s so much to learn from him. Just watching him and seeing how he works is very educational. He never complains and doesn’t care about scoring. He just wants to do what’s best for the team. Having someone so unselfish in the locker room definitely lifts the team. He’s a very important player for us.”
On the pressure ahead of the Playoffs:
“There’s always pressure in the Playoffs. But in my opinion, the best players show up under pressure. The best teams and the best coaches find a way to outperform others in those moments. If we can do that, I think we’ll be in a good position to reach the Final Four.”
Regarding his future at Fenerbahce:
“It’s too early to talk about that right now. I just want to focus on Fenerbahce and winning a championship here. I want to stay present. When the time comes to make decisions, I feel like I have the right people around me to help me make the best choice. For now, my focus is only on Fenerbahce and winning the title. Whatever happens next, we’ll figure it out at the right time. Showing why I came here is what matters most to me.”