Alando Tucker


Alando Forest Tucker is an American college basketball coach for the Wisconsin Badgers, serving as an interim assistant coach for the 2019–20 season. He also had a 10-year professional career from 2007 to 2017, including a stint in the National Basketball Association. He last played for Hapoel Eilat of the Israeli Premier League.

High school career

Alando attended Lockport Township High School in Lockport, Illinois.
Tucker averaged 21.6 points and seven rebounds per game as a junior. He was one of only two juniors to be named to the Herald News AA all-area team.
As a senior Tucker earned all-state honors averaging 22.2 points while hauling in 7.7 rebounds and dishing 5.7 assists per game. He scored 35 points against Joliet Township, the number one ranked team in the state.
After seeing drugs and gang violence throughout his childhood, Tucker and his older brother Antonio made a pact to stay clean. They pledged to stay drug, tobacco, and alcohol free and stay away from tattoos.

Collegiate career

Tucker started off his college basketball career in 2002–03 starting 27 of 32 games as a freshman. He averaged 12.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
In 2003–04, Tucker played in just four games because of a right foot injury. He applied for and received a medical redshirt after the season.
During the 2004–05 season, Tucker started 30 out of 31 games. He led the Badgers in scoring with 15.2 points. He also averaged 6.1 rebounds. At the end of the 2006–07 regular season, Tucker was averaging 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
On February 10, 2007, Tucker reached the 2,000-point mark in his collegiate career in a game against Iowa. He was the second Wisconsin Badger to ever accomplish this. The first was Michael Finley.
On March 10, 2007, Tucker broke the all-time Wisconsin scoring record previously held by Michael Finley.
Tucker also broke Finley's UW vertical jump record.
His collegiate career ended on March 18, 2007, when the Badgers lost to the UNLV Runnin' Rebels 74–68 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Tucker finished with 17 points on 4–11 shooting from the field and 8–13 from the line. He also had seven rebounds. He was named Big Ten Player of the Year and a NCAA 1st Team All-American, and also received the Lowe's Senior Class Award, in his final season.
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in a ceremony on May 19, 2007.

Pro career

NBA career

Tucker was selected 29th overall in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns.

First Albuquerque Thunderbirds assignment

After appearing in two games for Phoenix, Tucker was assigned to the Suns' NBA Development League affiliate Albuquerque Thunderbirds on November 27, 2007. His performances include a 25-point, 12-rebound effort in a 92–84 loss to Idaho on December 1, 40 points in a 109–102 win over Bakersfield on December 14, and 32 points in a 100–97 victory over Anaheim on December 15. Tucker was recalled by the Suns on December 18.

Second Albuquerque Thunderbirds assignment

On January 11, 2008, he was reassigned to Albuquerque, and recalled ten days later. His performances include a team-high 33 points and 10 rebounds in a 123–117 win over Austin on January 12, 39 points in a 92–91 win over Rio Grande Valley on January 13, a game-high 26 points in a 98–81 loss to Colorado on January 15, and a game-high 29 points in a 104–84 loss to Dakota on January 19.

Third Albuquerque Thunderbirds assignment

He was assigned a third time on March 13, 2008. In 21 total games, he averaged 27.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists. Tucker's performances in his third assignment include scoring a Thunderbirds season-high 42 points in a 116–100 victory over Los Angeles on March 16, a 38-point effort in a 119–104 win over Tulsa on March 20, 33 points in a 114–108 win over Tulsa on March 21, 38 points in a 119–115 loss to Rio Grande Valley on March 30, and 34 points in a 118–112 victory over Tulsa on April 5. Tucker was recalled to the Suns on April 7. He received Honorable Mention for D-League Performer of the Week for March 17, 2008.

Iowa Energy

Tucker was assigned to the Suns' new D-League affiliate Iowa Energy on December 26, 2008. He was recalled on January 2, 2009, after playing two games with the Energy. His Iowa season-high was a 13-point effort in a 107–101 win over Utah on December 28.

Minnesota Timberwolves

On December 29, 2009, Tucker was traded along with a second round pick and cash considerations to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Jason Hart. He was waived by the Timberwolves on March 22, 2010.

Texas Legends

In November 2011, Tucker was selected by the Texas Legends with the second pick in the NBA D-League Draft. However, Tucker decided to play in Spain instead.

Milwaukee Bucks

On October 1, 2012, Tucker signed with the Milwaukee Bucks. He was waived by the team on October 27, 2012.

International career

In April 2010 he signed with pro team Gallitos de Isabela in Puerto Rico.
On August 11, 2010 he signed a contract with the Russian club Lokomotiv Kuban from Krasnodar, Russia.
In November 2011, Tucker signed with CB Gran Canaria in Spain.
In February 2013, Tucker signed with BK Inter Bratislava in Slovakia. He won a championship in the same year.
In September 2013, he signed with Lukoil Academic where he averaged 16.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
On November 28, 2014 he signed with French club SOMB Boulogne-sur-Mer.
On July 7, 2015 he has signed with LNB Pro A side SLUC Nancy. He averaged 10.9 points in 7 LNB matches before he moved to Israel.
On November 11, 2015, Tucker signed with Maccabi Kiryat Gat of the Israeli Premier League.
On June 23, 2016, Tucker signed with Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League.
On August 2, 2017, Tucker signed with Hapoel Eilat for the 2017–18 season. However, on November 14, 2017, Tucker was released by Eilat after appearing in six games.

Achievements and awards

Regular season

Coaching career

On July 31st, 2019, Tucker was announced as interim assistant coach of the University of Wisconsin Badgers for the 2019-20 season. Tucker will fill the role of Badger Assistant Coach Howard Moore, who is on leave for the season after being involved in a serious car accident and suffering subsequent health issues.