By Kostas Paraskevopoulos/ info@eurohoops.net
Rayjon Tucker emerged as a recent signing for AEK Betsson, heading to the Quarterfinals of the Basketball Champions League.
Making his first appearance with the Queen, the 27-year-old guard tallied four points and one rebound in a home win against Nanterre 92 to start a best-of-three series.
After the game in Sunel Arena, Tucker talked to Eurohoops about adjustments and his approach to the bottom end of the 2024-25 season, following a slow start with Virtus Segafredo Bologna.
“It feels great, coming out and seeing the fans support,” he applauded the loyals packing the venue on Wednesday, “AEK has been really good all year. Just to see the fans come out and support something that can be very special for this organization is very big.”
The team coached by Dragan Sakota requires one more win to advance to the Final Four and also secure hosting rights for the season-ending tournament. Another 1-0 lead in a best-of-three series shapes the current domestic situation, opposite PAOK mateco in the Quarterfinals of Greece’s Stoiximan GBL Playoffs.
“I feel solid,” he said on preparing for upcoming challenges, “I bring a level of attention, offensively and defensively. I’m just getting in the rhythm. Learning what guys like to do, their spots, just fitting into the offense.”
“Just for me to be me,” he revealed his role, as projected by Sakota, “He coached against me when I was in Venice. So, he knows what type of player I am. Obviously, this team has other guys doing the bulk of the scoring. I just get the energy in defense and get in where I fit.”
A former BCL champion in AEK started the ongoing continental campaign with a 4-2 run to top Group E of the Regular Season. Ranking first in Group I of the Round of 16 with a 5-1 W-L tally went into homecourt advantage in the Quarterfinals.
“For sure,” Tucker answered a question about potentially the Greek club capturing a second championship in the top-tier club continental competition of FIBA Europe, “They are final eight team. That shows they are one of the best teams in the BCL.”
Playing for Virtus Bologna since the start of the season, the Charlotte native, a veteran of 50 NBA games, introduced himself to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, averaging 3.4 points in just under ten minutes per game over 23 appearances, including eight starts. He added 5.3 points per contest in Italy’s LBA UnipolSai Regular Season.
“I always have motivation, when a season or team doesn’t go as expected. Obviously, I have a chip on my shoulder, just to demonstrate how good I am. Other than that, the main goal for me is to win,” he mentioned, “I am a winner.”
“That’s what I’ve proven from the time I stepped on the court in Venice and in Europe,” Tucker referred to a brilliant 2023-24 journey with Umana Reyer Venice.
“That didn’t go my way in Bologna, playing time and things like that. To come to another successful team, and being able to contribute is big,” he concluded.
AEK resumes action in the Champions League by visiting Nanterre and aiming to clinch a berth in the Final Four for the third time in team history on Wednesday. If necessary, Game 3 will return and decide the series to Athens on Wednesday, April 23.