.jpg) Prince with theAtlanta Hawks in 2017 | ||||||||||||
| No. 12 – Milwaukee Bucks | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Small forward /power forward | |||||||||||
| League | NBA | |||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||
| Born | (1994-03-22)March 22, 1994 (age 31) San Marcos, Texas, U.S. | |||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | |||||||||||
| Listed weight | 218 lb (99 kg) | |||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||
| High school | Earl Warren (San Antonio, Texas) | |||||||||||
| College | Baylor (2012–2016) | |||||||||||
| NBA draft | 2016: 1st round, 12th overall pick | |||||||||||
| Selected by theUtah Jazz | ||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2016–present | |||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||
| 2016–2019 | Atlanta Hawks | |||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | →Long Island Nets | |||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | Brooklyn Nets | |||||||||||
| 2021 | Cleveland Cavaliers | |||||||||||
| 2021–2023 | Minnesota Timberwolves | |||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Los Angeles Lakers | |||||||||||
| 2024–present | Milwaukee Bucks | |||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Stats at NBA.com  | ||||||||||||
| Stats atBasketball Reference | ||||||||||||
Medals
| ||||||||||||
Taurean Waller-Prince (/ˈtɔːriən/TOR-ee-ən;[1] born March 22, 1994)[2] is an American professionalbasketball player for theMilwaukee Bucks of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He playedcollege basketball for theBaylor Bears. He was drafted by theUtah Jazz with the 12th pick in the2016 NBA draft but was traded to theAtlanta Hawks where he played for three seasons before being traded to theBrooklyn Nets in the 2019 off-season. In January 2021, he was traded to theCleveland Cavaliers and was then traded to theMinnesota Timberwolves in August of the same year. He has also played for theLos Angeles Lakers.
Prince played three seasons of high school basketball under head coach Jim Weaver atEarl Warren High School inSan Antonio, Texas. As a senior, he led the team to the state semifinals. He originally chose to playcollege basketball with theLIU Brooklyn Blackbirds, but switched toBaylor due to a coaching change within the former program.[3]
Prince played 24 games off the bench in his freshman season. He finished the year averaging 3.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 6.4 minutes per game. In the spring prior to his sophomore season, Prince was on theBig 12 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll. After averaging 6.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 14.2 minutes per game and appearing in all 38 ofBaylor's games, he won the Big 12 Sixth Man Award and earned all-conference honors.[3] Entering his fourth season,Fran Fraschilla labeled him as a strong candidate forBig 12 Player of the Year in2015–16.[4]
On June 23, 2016, Prince was selected by theUtah Jazz with the 12th overall pick in the2016 NBA draft. His rights were later traded to theAtlanta Hawks on July 7 in a three-team deal also involving theIndiana Pacers the Jazz receivedGeorge Hill and the Pacers receivedJeff Teague.[5] On July 15, he signed his rookie-scale contract with the Hawks.[6] On March 11, 2017, he had a then season-best 17 points in a 107–90 win over theMemphis Grizzlies.[7] On April 6, he scored a career-high 20 points in a 123–116 win over theBoston Celtics.[8] With 11 points in Game 4 of the Hawks' first-round playoff series against theWashington Wizards, Prince became the first Hawks rookie to reach double-figures in his first four playoff games sincePete Maravich did it in five straight in 1971.[9] During his rookie season, Prince had multiple assignments with theLong Island Nets of theNBA Development League, pursuant to the flexible assignment rule.[10]
On December 12, 2017, Prince scored a career-high 24 points in a 123–114 loss to theCleveland Cavaliers.[11] Three days later, he made a career-high five 3-pointers and had 17 points in a 96–94 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.[12] On December 29, he had a career-high 30 points and 10 rebounds in a 111–98 loss to theToronto Raptors. Prince matched a career high with five 3-pointers and extended his career-high streak of games with at least one 3-pointer to 17.[13] On February 2, 2018, he set a new career high with 31 points in a 119–110 loss to the Boston Celtics.[14] On March 11, he set a new career high with 38 points in a 129–122 loss to theChicago Bulls.[15] Six days later, he had another 38-point effort in a 122–117 loss to theMilwaukee Bucks.[16] On April 8, he made seven of eight 3-pointers to score 33 points in a 112–106 win over the Celtics.[17]
On October 19, in just the second game of the season, Prince scored a season-high 28 points against the Grizzlies.[18] On January 13, 2019, against the Bucks, Prince returned to action after missing 18 games with a left ankle sprain.[19]
On July 6, 2019, Prince, alongside a 2021 second-round pick, was traded to theBrooklyn Nets in exchange forAllen Crabbe, the draft rights toNickeil Alexander-Walker, and a protected 2020 first-round pick.[20] On October 21, Prince, signed a two-year, $29 million contract extension with the Nets.[21] He made his Nets debut two days later, recording 15 points, eleven rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 127–126 overtime loss to theMinnesota Timberwolves.[22] On November 1, Prince scored a season-high 27 points, alongside twelve rebounds, in a 123–116 win over theHouston Rockets.[23] In March 2020, the NBA season was suspended due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. After the game on November 12, 2019, against theUtah Jazz, Prince traded jerseys with former Baylor Bears teammateRoyce O'Neale. In July, Prince tested positive for COVID-19 and sat out for the restart of the season in theNBA Bubble.[24]
On January 14, 2021, Prince and centerJarrett Allen were traded to theCleveland Cavaliers in a multi-player, four-team deal with theHouston Rockets andIndiana Pacers that sentJames Harden to Brooklyn.[25] Prince made his Cavaliers debut on January 20, recording 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists in a 147–135 double-overtime win over theBrooklyn Nets.[26] On April 14, he scored a season-high 25 points, alongside four rebounds and three assists, in a 103–90 win over theCharlotte Hornets.[27] On April 27, Prince underwent a successful left ankle arthroscopic surgery after missing three games with left ankle soreness. The surgery subsequently ended his season.[28]
On August 3, 2021, Prince, alongside a 2022 second-round pick and cash considerations, was traded to theMinnesota Timberwolves in exchange forRicky Rubio.[29] Prince made his Timberwolves debut on October 20, recording five points, three rebounds and two assists in a 124–106 win over theHouston Rockets.[30] On February 1, 2022, he scored a season-high 23 points, alongside nine rebounds, two assists and two steals, in a 130–115 win over theDenver Nuggets.[31] Two days later, Prince again scored 23 points, alongside six rebounds, in a 128–117 win over theDetroit Pistons.[32] After aplay-in tournament win over theLos Angeles Clippers, the Timberwolves qualified for the playoffs for the first time since2018. However, they fell to theMemphis Grizzlies in six games during the first round.[33]
On June 30, 2022, Prince signed a two-year, $16 million contract extension with the Timberwolves.[34][35]
On July 6, 2023, Prince signed with theLos Angeles Lakers.[36] On December 9, 2023, Prince and the Lakers won theinaugural season of theNBA In-Season Tournament.[37]
On July 9, 2024, Prince signed with theMilwaukee Bucks.[38] On December 17, 2024, Prince and the Bucks won the2024 NBA Cup, which made Prince the first player in history to win multiple Cup titles.[39][40]
In the summer of 2015, following his junior season, Prince helped theUnited States men's national basketball team win the bronze medal at the2015 Pan American Games. He was on a team led byBobby Brown andAnthony Randolph.[4]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | Atlanta | 59 | 10 | 16.6 | .400 | .324 | .787 | 2.7 | .9 | .7 | .5 | 5.7 |
| 2017–18 | Atlanta | 82* | 82* | 30.0 | .426 | .385 | .844 | 4.7 | 2.6 | 1.0 | .5 | 14.1 |
| 2018–19 | Atlanta | 55 | 47 | 28.2 | .441 | .390 | .819 | 3.6 | 2.1 | 1.0 | .3 | 13.5 |
| 2019–20 | Brooklyn | 64 | 61 | 29.0 | .376 | .339 | .798 | 6.0 | 1.8 | .9 | .4 | 12.1 |
| 2020–21 | Brooklyn | 12 | 4 | 18.1 | .405 | .351 | .889 | 2.8 | .6 | .7 | .7 | 8.1 |
| Cleveland | 29 | 6 | 23.7 | .399 | .415 | .837 | 3.7 | 2.4 | .7 | .5 | 10.1 | |
| 2021–22 | Minnesota | 69 | 8 | 17.1 | .454 | .376 | .756 | 2.5 | 1.0 | .7 | .3 | 7.3 |
| 2022–23 | Minnesota | 54 | 4 | 22.1 | .467 | .381 | .844 | 2.4 | 1.6 | .5 | .3 | 9.1 |
| 2023–24 | L.A. Lakers | 78 | 49 | 27.0 | .442 | .396 | .735 | 2.9 | 1.5 | .7 | .4 | 8.9 |
| Career | 502 | 271 | 24.4 | .424 | .376 | .811 | 3.6 | 1.7 | .8 | .4 | 10.1 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Minnesota | 2 | 1 | 31.7 | .368 | .500 | — | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 | .0 | 10.0 |
| 2024 | L.A. Lakers | 1 | 0 | 22.4 | .286 | .333 | — | 4.0 | .0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 6.0 |
| Career | 3 | 1 | 28.6 | .346 | .444 | — | 2.3 | 1.3 | 1.7 | .3 | 8.7 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Atlanta | 6 | 6 | 31.2 | .558 | .286 | 1.000 | 5.3 | 1.3 | .3 | .2 | 11.2 |
| 2022 | Minnesota | 5 | 0 | 13.1 | .370 | .286 | .857 | 1.6 | 1.2 | .4 | .2 | 6.0 |
| 2023 | Minnesota | 5 | 1 | 20.0 | .364 | .381 | .778 | 1.4 | .8 | .6 | .2 | 7.8 |
| 2024 | L.A. Lakers | 5 | 0 | 22.2 | .414 | .294 | 1.000 | 2.4 | .6 | .2 | .4 | 7.4 |
| Career | 21 | 7 | 22.1 | .447 | .318 | .897 | 2.8 | 1.0 | .4 | .2 | 8.2 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Baylor | 24 | 0 | 6.4 | .583 | .3 | .727 | 2.2 | .1 | .4 | .1 | 3.7 |
| 2013–14 | Baylor | 38 | 2 | 14.3 | .465 | .366 | .709 | 2.8 | .6 | .5 | .2 | 6.2 |
| 2014–15 | Baylor | 33 | 6 | 26.3 | .472 | .395 | .644 | 5.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | .9 | 13.9 |
| 2015–16 | Baylor | 34 | 34 | 30.6 | .432 | .361 | .774 | 6.1 | 2.3 | 1.3 | .7 | 15.9 |
| Career | 129 | 42 | 20.2 | .460 | .376 | .718 | 4.2 | 1.1 | .9 | .5 | 10.2 | |
On August 25, 2022, Prince was arrested on a "fugitive warrant-out-of-state extradite" atMiami International Airport on account of a "dangerous drugs" charge from Texas.[41] On November 19, 2022, it was announced that Prince would not face charges despite the arrest.[42]
Prince is aMuslim and talked about fasting for Ramadan in a post-game interview.[43]
Prince honored his mother, Tamiyko, by wearing her maiden name, Waller, on the back of his jersey as Waller-Prince while playing for the Baylor Bears.[44]
