When Talen Horton-Tucker walks into the United Center, it’s more than just another arena. It’s home.
It’s where the echoes of his childhood ring from the 300 level to the locker room. Where Bulls legends once roamed and where, now, a hometown kid is adding to the story. The Chicago native has gone from watching Bulls games on WGN in his living room to lacing up for his city, and this season, that connection is deeper than ever.
Asked what’s sparked the Bulls’ midseason turnaround, Horton-Tucker didn’t hesitate.
“Just the way we’re playing together,” he said. “Just being able to stay united through the ups and downs of the season.”
That unity has been critical. Through injuries, tough stretches, and outside doubt, the Bulls have fought to remain relevant in the tightly contested Eastern Conference. For THT, it’s not just about wins and losses—it’s about representing Chicago with heart.
And the pride of playing for his hometown team? That hits different.
“It’s a dream,” Horton-Tucker said, smiling. “And being able to live your dream to play for your home team is super fun and being able to do it and being part of the success is good!”
He grew up watching Bulls basketball from every angle—before, during, and after the Derrick Rose era. THT might not have seen Michael Jordan live, but he saw the legacy in real time through the eyes of his family.
“The Bulls I used to watch on WGN (Channel 9) in my house almost every day the Bulls came on; pre-Derrick Rose, during Derrick Rose, after Derrick Rose,” he recalled. “I’m a 2000’s kid so I didn’t Jordan play live but, my mom and my brother would show and explain it to me.”
That education wasn’t just about highlights and history—it was about culture. About understanding what it means to wear the jersey in a city where basketball isn’t just a game, it’s identity. It’s legacy. And this season, Horton-Tucker is trying to add his own brush stroke to the Bulls’ evolving picture.
As Chicago hovers near the Play-In line, the 23-year-old knows the stakes. He’s not interested in what the projections say or what the critics think. What drives him is the opportunity to compete—and to make it count.
“Just continuing to fight and playing meaningful basketball is always important and being able to get the opportunity,” he said.
He knows not everyone believed the Bulls would even be in this position. And that doubt? That fuels him.
“Oh yeah, of course we already knew what we can do as a team,” Horton-Tucker said. “So being able to have more to put more of a chip on our shoulders motivates us all the time.”
That chip isn’t just about this season. It’s about carrying the pride of neighborhoods that raised him, schools that shaped him, and courts that taught him. His path—from Simeon Career Academy to the NBA—runs through every blacktop on the South Side.
And like any true Chicagoan, his playlist tells the story too.
“Well, I’m from Chicago so I play a lot of Chicago artists; some old school rappers, but that’s pretty much it.” he said.
Whether it’s Common, Twista, Kanye, or Chief Keef, the sound of the city moves with him—even into the locker room.
In Talen Horton-Tucker, the Bulls have more than a role player. They have a heartbeat. A reminder that sometimes, the most powerful stories in the NBA aren’t just the ones written in stat sheets, but the ones rooted in home.
Because for THT, this isn’t just another stop in his NBA journey—it’s the stop. And every night in a Bulls jersey is a tribute to the city that raised him.
