New United Import Attracted by Family Feel

Melbourne United’s new import guard Rayjon Tucker won’t only help fill the hole left by NBA-bound Matthew Dellavedova and Jack White on the court, but his maturity and leadership will help maintain a steady ship off it.

The mindset the explosive guard approaches life with is a thoughtful and insightful one, especially for a man who only recently turned 24. 

A family man first and foremost, Tucker says an inclusive feel at his new club helped prompt him to sign on the dotted line. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are very excited to announce the signing of former NBA guard Rayjon Tucker for NBL23!<br><br>The highflying American has spent the past 3 seasons splitting his time between the NBA &amp; the G-League &amp; is the all-time leading scorer for the <a href="https://twitter.com/WisconsinHerd?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WisconsinHerd</a>. <br><br>?: <a href="https://t.co/F6VFaxUVJG">https://t.co/F6VFaxUVJG</a> <a href="https://t.co/VjFV4kFFhb">pic.twitter.com/VjFV4kFFhb</a></p>&mdash; Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnited/status/1554210436643696640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“It’s just me, my mum and my little brother Tevin. He was two when my dad left so I kind of had to take on that father figure role a little early,” Tucker told The Herald Sun.

“My mum is my backbone, that’s my world, my heart, my soul. She’s been with me through my hardest times, my ups and downs. She’s the strongest woman I know.

“Family is always top priority for me and that’s why I chose Melbourne … me and Nick (Melbourne United CEO Nick Truelson) talked about his kids being excited for me to come over there and to visit their place for dinner.

“I feel like where you’re comfortable, that’s where you perform your best and I just feel a level of comfort coming to Melbourne.”

Tucker heads to the NBL with extensive NBA G-League experience, as well as a number of short stints playing in the NBA.

The 6-foot-1 guard is the all-time leading scorer for the G-League’s Wisconsin Herd – the affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks - and has played 39 NBA games across stints with Utah, Philadelphia, Denver and Milwaukee.

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He comes into the league having played with reigning league MVP Jaylen Adams at the Herd, and says his personal goals are different to the Kings' star.

“The only difference I can say about me and Jaylen is that instead of MVP, I’d rather shoot for defensive player of the year. That’s my goal,” Tucker said.

“Nick and head coach Dean (Vickerman), I trusted in them, how they wanted to build, how the team is formulated — they have championship aspirations and I’m a winner and that’s what I plan to come over there and do.

“My goal right now is to take it day by day. I’m privileged to be put in this position to just do what I do as a basketball player.”