By Antonis Stroggylakis / info@eurohoops.net
Talen Horton-Tucker spoke to reporters ahead of Fenerbahce Beko’s EuroLeague semifinal clash with Olympiacos, discussing his conversations with former teammate Kendrick Nunn, the influence of Nando De Colo, and his mindset before the biggest game of his European career so far.
Horton-Tucker revealed that he had recently spoken with Kendrick Nunn, who won the EuroLeague title during his first season in Europe with Panathinaikos two years ago.
“Yeah, of course. It’s actually kind of funny — I was with him last night. We had a really good conversation. He wishes the best for me and, honestly, it would be an incredible achievement. To win the EuroLeague in my first year and accomplish things like that would be amazing, but the most important thing is winning the championship. I’m preparing myself for that. I feel like I’m heading down a good path in my career.”
Asked about Nunn’s advice before facing Olympiacos B.C., Horton-Tucker said the message was simple.
“Just keep playing hard and keep being myself. A lot of people in the EuroLeague already know the kind of player I am, but honestly, I feel like there’s another level I can still reach. At the same time, I think if I continue being myself, I’ll be in a good place and I can help this team.”
Looking ahead to the semifinal, the Fenerbahce guard emphasized the importance of physicality and defensive discipline against the EuroLeague’s top offensive team.
“We just have to be as physical as possible, stay true to our identity and play hard. That’s the biggest thing. Playing against a team like Olympiacos requires you to be fully prepared. We have to play extremely well. They’re the number one offensive team, so we need to use our strengths — especially our defense — to slow them down as much as possible.”
While praising Olympiacos and their coaching staff, Horton-Tucker stressed the importance of understanding their tendencies rather than fearing them.
“They’re a very good team and they have a very good coach. You always have to respect that. I wouldn’t say we’re not concerned about them, but we need to understand who they are and how they want to play so we can limit them.”
Despite the magnitude of the occasion, Horton-Tucker insisted he feels more excitement than nervousness ahead of his first EuroLeague Final Four appearance.
“Not really nervous. I’d say it’s more excitement than nerves. Honestly, I’m just ready to play. I’m going to play the same game I play every day. That’s how I feel before any basketball game. It’s more like, ‘Let’s get started, let’s handle business.’ That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
The former NBA player also opened up about his mental preparation before big games, explaining that journaling has become part of his routine.
“It’s going to be a tough night before a tough game. One thing I do on game days is keep a journal for myself. It helps remind me to stay in the moment and avoid stress. The mental side of basketball is just as important as the physical side, so I try to do things like that to stay balanced.”
Horton-Tucker then spoke about the impact De Colo has had on him throughout the season, both on and off the court.
“He helps a lot. With Nando, everything starts off the court. Watching how he comes into practice and prepares himself for the day helps all of us. We work hard and play hard by following his example. Ever since I got here, he’s been my shooting partner. He’s definitely someone I listen to closely and someone whose habits I try to follow. Hopefully I can achieve the same success he had.”
He added that many of his current teammates have also helped prepare him for the unique atmosphere of the Final Four.
“I’ve mostly talked with my current teammates. They gave me advice to help prepare mentally and explained what the Final Four environment is like. It’s an amazing place to be, with a great atmosphere, but there’s also a lot happening around it. Thanks to them, nothing here has caught me off guard, and I’m grateful for that.”
Finally, Horton-Tucker addressed the challenge of defending Sasha Vezenkov, one of Olympiacos’ biggest stars.
“We’ll try to limit him. We want to push him away from the spots where he likes to catch the ball, stop him from getting to the areas he wants on the floor and keep him away from the free-throw line. You don’t want to give easy points to a great player like that because once players like him get comfortable, they become really hard to stop.”
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