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Talen Horton-Tucker of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Before Talen Horton-Tucker starred for his current club in Turkey, the 25-year-old shooting guard was a promising young prospect in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Along the way, Horton-Tucker fell out of favor in the NBA after holding stints with the Lakers, Utah Jazz, and the Chicago Bulls.

That led Horton-Tucker down the path of entering the EuroLeague for the 2026-2027 NBA season. After getting a different perspective with Fenerbahçe S.K., Horton-Tucker believes he is more prepared than ever to have an NBA resurgence.

Talen Horton-Tucker Sends A Message To The NBA

GettyLAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 06: Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a shot against the Houston Rockets in the second half at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 6, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)

“I just feel like I know if I did go back to the NBA, I would be a lot better than I was when I was there. Just understanding the game a little bit more, understanding pace and timing, thinking the game a lot easier, and not making the game harder on myself,” Horton-Tucker said on Euro Insiders.

“Just being over here has taught me how to be a little bit more efficient with my scoring, knowing how to play the game, and knowing how to manipulate the game. It’s definitely something that I know, if I took it back to the NBA level, I could show that my growth here really helped and paid off. When that time comes, and the decision for me to be here or to go back comes, I’ll definitely think about a lot of things like that, too.”

Horton-Tucker Has Plenty Of Time

GettyPHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 06: Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the NBA preseason game at Footprint Center on October 06, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Lakers 117-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The veteran guard has plenty of gas left in the tank. When Horton-Tucker entered the NBA, he was coming off just one season at Iowa State. He appeared in 35 games there before declaring for the NBA Draft.

Horton-Tucker was a second-round pick for the Lakers. He played in just six games as a rookie, watching his team take home the NBA Finals.

After getting that initial experience, Horton-Tucker became a rotational player for the Lakers. In a major market, there was plenty of pressure on the young player to earn his stripes in the league. He served a steady role for LA before he traded to the Jazz during the 2022 offseason.

In 2024, Horton-Tucker became a free agent. He signed with the Chicago Bulls for one season. During his final run with the Bulls, Horton-Tucker played in 58 games. He averaged 6.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists.

Throughout his career, Horton-Tucker appeared in over 300 games. Seeing the court for 19.5 minutes per game, the veteran guard produced 9.2 points per game, while shooting 42.7% from the field.

With free agency approaching in a couple of months, Horton-Tucker could get some attention from the NBA once again. In the EuroLeague, the young veteran put up 15.2 points per game, while shooting 59.3% from the field.