British basketball is entering an exciting era, but it will do so without domestic icon Mike Tuck on the court.
Earlier this month, the British-Canadian power forward announced his retirement after representing the Sheffield Sharks for 13 seasons from 2009. Tuck made his record 500th and final appearance against the Glasgow Rocks, signalling the end of his stellar career in the British Basketball League.
His achievements speak for themselves: BBL Cup champion in 2009/10 and 2010/11, BBL Trophy winner in 2012/13, and his BBL Play-Off Final victory in 2015/16. The final performance was particularly impressive, with Tuck turning in a 20-point, 13-rebound, four-assist outing as he collected MVP honours.
Tuck led the Sharks to runners-up in the BBL in his final season which suggested he has more in the tank, but he is at peace with his decision. In fact, retirement was a thought the 39-year-old had considered for some time.
“I’ve played around [with retirement] in the back of my mind for a few seasons,” Tuck exclusively told The Mirror . “Covid put a pause to it because I didn’t want to finish like that, so I kept playing for a little longer.
“It was the right time. I’ve won my championships; I think it’s just time to sit back and let the younger generation take over the league.
“The fans are what makes the game for me, and I didn’t want to retire in the year where he had these empty stadiums. It was such a weird year and we wanted to be back in front of fans. Obviously, I wanted another shot at getting silverware last season and we finished runners up in the league, but I've had my successes and enjoyed a great career.
“I’ve been blessed to win many things. There’s no regrets; I’ve had an amazing time.”
Ironically, Tuck didn’t actually find out his final game was his 500th appearance for the Sharks until after the match. He believes it was a ‘fitting’ end to his illustrious career, particularly after becoming Sheffield’s all-time leading points scorer last season.
It is unsurprising that Tuck is the leading scorer for the Sharks: he scored 25 or more points on 13 occasions for Sheffield with a career-high of 33 against the Mersey Tigers. As well as being the Sharks leading points scorer, Tuck also leads the club in two point shots made (1561) and rebounding (2532).
While listing his accolades and career highlights, Tuck commented on the honour of being named captain of Team England at the 2018 Commonwealth Games - but the 2015/16 Play-Off Final sticks out to him. After taking a moment, he added: “The biggest memory that sticks out is the 2016 Playoff Final, when we beat the Leicester Riders down at the London O2 Arena.
“I came out on top with an MVP performance in front of thousands of Sharks fans. My mother had flown over from Canada, and I had a lot of close friends and family at the game so it was a really special moment that I’ll always remember.”
Ultimately, Tuck has enjoyed his career with the Sharks amid an immense rise in the popularity of basketball. The NBA is as current as it has ever been in this country, while the BBL is starting to become more visible in a crowded sporting landscape.
Tuck is proud of the sport’s development and he has never been more excited about the state of basketball on these shores. There are a number of factors contributing to this, including investment and accessibility as well as the stunning success of England - gold and silver in the men’s and women’s 3x3 basketball event - at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
“We’ve come a long way from when I first got here to now,” Tuck, whose experience in the front office of a BBL club, as a player and as a pundit with Sky Sports gives him a unique perspective on basketball in this country, continued. “Everybody talks about the ‘90s as the ‘Golden Era’ of the BBL, but I’ve got to wholeheartedly disagree - it’s right now.
“We're back on Sky with bigger numbers than we've ever seen before, the investment coming into the league is massive, and there are bigger players than we’ve ever seen before coming into the league. There’s been a huge shift.
“I didn’t think we received the respect we deserved from around Europe, but now we have a bigger platform. With this new investment, we'll be able to really push the marketing and branding of this league into a new era we've never seen seen before. It’s exciting to be a part of.
“[The Commonwealth Games] was a statement that basketball is growing in this country. Even though it was 3x3, it is still basketball, the game we know and love. It’s great to see the league’s homegrown talent doing big things on the international stage.”
As for the Sharks, Tuck will be replaced as captain by Rodney Glasgow Jr. - and the former pro is confident the point guard will excel going forwards. Tuck added: “His game speaks for itself; he’s a great guy and a real leader. He’s committed to being in Sheffield, so don’t worry - the Sharks will be just fine with Rodney Glasgow at the helm.”
Who do you think will win the BBL in 2022/23? Let us know in the comments section.
While Tuck has walked away from playing basketball, he will remain lurking with the Sharks. The former Sheffield star is moving up the front office where he will lead with the team’s marketing as they prepare for the move to their new stadium, the Park Community Arena which opens in August 2023.
“I’m really excited about the next stage in my life,” Tuck said with a genuine smile etched across his face. “Obviously, I will miss basketball - but I will still be heavily involved in and around the sport.
“I’ll be part of the Sky Sports BBL presentation team as well as the the NBA broadcasts, so still heavily involved in the basketball world. I'm just a very lucky and blessed guy.”
After 13 years, 500 appearances and 4,297 points to his name, Tuck leaves his on-court career with his head held high. His advice if he could speak to his younger self?
“I didn’t think I would be here for longer than one or two seasons,” Tuck admits. “So I would probably have told myself to buckle up and get ready for the Sheffield ride!”
