Taurean Prince

Taurean Waller-Prince (born March 22, 1994) is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Baylor Bears. He was drafted by the Utah Jazz with the 12th pick in the 2016 NBA draft but was traded to the Atlanta Hawks where he played for three seasons before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the 2019 off-season. In January 2021, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and was then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in August of the same year. He has also played for the Los Angeles Lakers.

High school career
Prince played three seasons of high school basketball under head coach Jim Weaver at Earl Warren High School in San Antonio, Texas. As a senior, he led the team to the state semifinals. He originally chose to play college basketball with the LIU-Brooklyn Blackbirds, but switched to Baylor due to a coaching change within the former program.

College career
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 the Big 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 of Baylor's games, he won the Big 12 Sixth Man Award and earned all-conference honors. Entering his fourth season, Fran Fraschilla labeled him as a strong candidate for Big 12 Player of the Year in 2015–16.

Atlanta Hawks (2016–2019)
On June 23, 2016, Prince was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 12th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft. His rights were later traded to the Atlanta Hawks on July 7 in a three-team deal also involving the Indiana Pacers the Jazz received George Hill and the Pacers received Jeff Teague. On July 15, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Hawks. On March 11, 2017, he had a then season-best 17 points in a 107–90 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. On April 6, he scored a career-high 20 points in a 123–116 win over the Boston Celtics. With 11 points in Game 4 of the Hawks' first-round playoff series against the Washington Wizards, Prince became the first Hawks rookie to reach double-figures in his first four playoff games since Pete Maravich did it in five straight in 1971. During his rookie season, Prince had multiple assignments with the Long Island Nets of the NBA Development League, pursuant to the flexible assignment rule.

On December 12, 2017, Prince scored a career-high 24 points in a 123–114 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Three days later, he made a career-high five 3-pointers and had 17 points in a 96–94 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. On December 29, he had a career-high 30 points and 10 rebounds in a 111–98 loss to the Toronto 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. On February 2, 2018, he set a new career high with 31 points in a 119–110 loss to the Boston Celtics. On March 11, he set a new career high with 38 points in a 129–122 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Six days later, he had another 38-point effort in a 122–117 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. On April 8, he made seven of eight 3-pointers to score 33 points in a 112–106 win over the Celtics.

On October 19, in just the second game of the season, Prince scored a season-high 28 points against the Grizzlies. On January 13, 2019, against the Bucks, Prince returned to action after missing 18 games with a left ankle sprain.

Brooklyn Nets (2019–2021)
On July 6, 2019, Prince, alongside a 2021 second-round pick, was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Allen Crabbe, the draft rights to Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and a protected 2020 first-round pick. On October 21, Prince, signed a two-year $29 million contract extension with the Nets. 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 the Minnesota Timberwolves. On November 1, Prince scored a season-high 27 points, alongside twelve rebounds, in a 123–116 win over the Houston Rockets. In March 2020, the NBA season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After the game on November 12, 2019 against the Utah Jazz, Prince traded jerseys with former Baylor Bears teammate Royce O'Neale. In July, Prince tested positive for COVID-19 and sat out for the restart of the season in the NBA Bubble.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2021)
On January 14, 2021, Prince and center Jarrett Allen were traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a multi-player, four-team deal with the Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers that sent James Harden to Brooklyn. Prince made his Cavaliers debut on January 20, recording 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists in a 147–135 double overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets. On April 14, he scored a season-high 25 points, alongside four rebounds and three assists, in a 103–90 win over the Charlotte Hornets. 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.

Minnesota Timberwolves (2021–2023)
On August 3, 2021, Prince, alongside a 2022 second-round pick and cash considerations, was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Ricky Rubio. Prince made his Timberwolves debut on October 20, recording five points, three rebounds and two assists in a 124–106 win over the Houston Rockets. 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 the Denver Nuggets. Two days later, Prince again scored 23 points, alongside six rebounds, in a 128–117 win over the Detroit Pistons. After a play-in tournament win over the Los Angeles Clippers, the Timberwolves qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2018. However, they fell to the Memphis Grizzlies in six games during the first round.

On June 30, 2022, Prince signed a two-year, $16 million contract extension with the Timberwolves.

Los Angeles Lakers (2023–2024)
On July 6, 2023, Prince signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. On December 9, 2023, Prince and the Lakers won the inaugural season of the NBA In-Season Tournament.

Milwaukee Bucks (2024–present)
On July 9, 2024, Prince signed with the Milwaukee Bucks.

National team career
In the summer of 2015, following his junior season, Prince helped the United States men's national basketball team win the bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games. He was on a team led by Bobby Brown and Anthony Randolph.

Personal life
On August 25, 2022, Prince was arrested on a "fugitive warrant out of state extradite" at Miami International Airport on account of a "dangerous drugs" charge from Texas. On November 19, 2022, it was announced that Prince would not face charges despite the arrest.

Prince is a Muslim and talked about fasting for Ramadan in a post game interview.

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.