By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Searching for a late boost, AEK Betsson targets Rayjon Tucker.
Facing a deadline on April 7 to register a new player in the Basketball Champions League squad, the storied Greek club awaits a possible decision by Virtus Segafredo Bologna to release the 27-year-old guard from his contract.
With rumors swirling about strengthening the championship bid in the BCL, Tucker would be a huge reinforcement for the team coached by Dragan Sakota. Clinching the top seed in Group I of the Round of 16, the Queen will have a home-court advantage in a best-of-three series for a spot in the Final Four. If AEK advances, Sunel Arena will be among the potential options to host the season-ending tournament.
Heading to the 2024-25 season, the Charlotte native moved his talents to Virtus Bologna. Over 23 appearances, including eight starts in his first Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign, averaging 3.4 points and 1.0 rebounds per contest does not meet initial expectations. In Italy’s LBA UnipolSai, he has 5.3 points per game. Looking to bounce back, he seems interested in a possible switch to AEK.
Coming out of Little Rock, Tucker went from undrafted in 2019 to record 50 appearances in the NBA, including being featured in 11 contests in the Playoffs of 2020, 2021, and 2022. His experience in the league based in North America went from the Utah Jazz to the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, and Milwaukee Bucks.
Expanding his career overseas, he spent the 2022-23 season in Oceania’s NBL with Melbourne United and played for Umana Reyer Venice in the 2023-24 editions of the BKT EuroCup and domestic competitions in Italy.