Tucker is not looking back at Memphis
LAS VEGAS — Rayjon Tucker took the pass near the left corner and threw a pump fake that put a defender on his heels.
Then, Tucker drove past the defender, easily shirked a half-hearted attempt at help-side defense and elevated for an emphatic, two-handed slam.
This display of explosive athleticism drew an "ooohhh" from a crowd of approximately 6,000 at the Thomas and Mack Center on the first day of NBA Summer League on Friday.
The reaction, though noticeable, paled in comparison to how a similar dunk would have been received at Fedexforum during one of the most-anticipated University of Memphis basketball seasons in school history.
There was a time — for nearly three weeks in May — that Tucker appeared on track to be a part of that season.
Tucker committed to Memphis on May 11 as a highly touted graduate transfer, only to later announce he would keep his name in the NBA Draft.
But after going undrafted and signing a contract with the Bucks that is reportedly partially guaranteed, Tucker only wants to look forward.
He started on the wing for Milwaukee's summer team in its 107-106 loss to Philadelphia on Friday and was not interested after the game in looking back at why playing at Memphis did not work out.
“We’ll just leave that alone," Tucker said.
Tucker's initial commitment to Mem
phis came amid a flurry of recruiting success for Tigers coach Penny Hardaway. The 6-foot-5 guard was considered the second-best graduate transfer this year by ESPN after averaging 20.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists at Little Rock during the 2018-19 season.
Tucker, a Charlotte, N.C., native, also shot 41.1 percent from 3-point range.
He picked Memphis over Auburn, Kansas and Iowa State but clarified when he committed that he was not pulling his name out of the draft.
Tucker's decision to keep his name in draft consideration left the Tigers with an open scholarship they have not yet filled. Now Tucker is fighting for a professional home. He finished with four points and three steals on Friday.
The stands were not as full as they will be for Tigers games at Fedexforum this season. But the platform — playing for an NBA team on national TV — left Tucker reflecting on the "blessing" of being where he is.
“This is always what I’ve dreamed about ever since I started playing basketball," Tucker said. "Just to be given this opportunity, it’s definitely a blessing.”
Tucker turns 22 in September and would have been the second-oldest player on the Tigers' roster behind Isaiah Maurice.
Instead, he is the youngest player on the Bucks' summer league roster and looking to prove that he didn't need a graduate transfer stop between Little Rock and a professional career after all.
“Well being a basketball player, it’s really not that hard," Tucker said. "You just try to — like I said — play the right way and do the right things. As long as you play the game the right way, it’ll all come back the right way.”