Taurean Prince Bio
Taurean Waller-Prince, born March 22, 1994, is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association. A versatile forward listed at 6 feet 6 inches and 218 pounds, he has built a steady role-player career across multiple franchises since entering the league in 2016. Prince is a two-time NBA Cup champion, having lifted the trophy with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023 and with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024.
Prince was drafted 12th overall by the Utah Jazz in the 2016 NBA draft before being traded to the Atlanta Hawks, where he began his professional career. He went on to play for the Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Lakers before joining the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024. Off the court, he is a practicing Muslim who has spoken publicly about fasting during Ramadan.
Early Life and Background
Taurean Waller-Prince was born on March 22, 1994, in San Marcos, Texas. He grew up in nearby San Antonio, where he attended Earl Warren High School and developed his game under head coach Jim Weaver. As a senior, he led the program to the state semifinals, establishing himself as one of the more promising prospects in the region.
Originally, Prince committed to play college basketball at LIU Brooklyn, but he changed his plans when there was a coaching change within that program. He instead chose to attend Baylor University, where he would spend the next four seasons refining his skill set. He wore the hyphenated surname Waller-Prince on his Baylor jersey to honor his mother, Tamiyko, and her maiden name.
Path to the NBA
Prince joined the Baylor Bears in 2012 and spent his freshman year working mainly off the bench, averaging 3.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in roughly 6.4 minutes per game. He earned a place on the Big 12 Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll the following spring, balancing his development on the court with academic achievement. By the end of his sophomore season, he had grown into the team’s top reserve, averaging 6.2 points and 2.8 rebounds across all 38 games.
His junior year was his most decorated to that point, as he won the Big 12 Sixth Man Award and earned second-team All-Big 12 honors. Entering his senior campaign, ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla identified him as a strong candidate for Big 12 Player of the Year. He delivered on that promise, claiming first-team All-Big 12 recognition in 2016. That summer, he was selected 12th overall in the 2016 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz, launching his professional career.
Taurean Prince Career
Early Career (2016–2019): Atlanta Hawks
Prince was taken 12th overall by the Utah Jazz on June 23, 2016, and was traded to the Atlanta Hawks on July 7 as part of a three-team deal also involving the Indiana Pacers. He signed his rookie-scale contract with Atlanta on July 15 and split time during his first year between the Hawks and the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League. He scored a then-season-high 17 points in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies on March 11, 2017, and set a career high of 20 points against the Boston Celtics on April 6.
In the playoffs, he became the first Hawks rookie to reach double figures in his first four postseason games since Pete Maravich in 1971. His second season brought a major scoring leap, including 30 points against the Toronto Raptors on December 29, 2017, 31 points against the Boston Celtics on February 2, 2018, and 38 points twice in losses in March 2018. Prince missed 18 games early in the 2018–19 season with a left ankle sprain before returning on January 13, 2019.
Brooklyn Nets Era (2019–2021)
On July 6, 2019, Prince 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. He signed a two-year, $29 million contract extension on October 21, 2019, and made his Nets debut two days later with 15 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and two steals in an overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He later scored a season-high 27 points with 12 rebounds in a win over the Houston Rockets on November 1, 2019.
The 2019–20 season was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2020, Prince tested positive for the virus and missed the NBA Bubble restart. He returned for the 2020–21 season but was moved again in mid-January 2021, this time as part of the four-team deal that sent James Harden to Brooklyn.
Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves (2021–2023)
On January 14, 2021, Prince and center Jarrett Allen were traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He debuted for Cleveland on January 20 with 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in a double-overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets. He posted a season-high 25 points against the Charlotte Hornets on April 14 before undergoing successful left ankle arthroscopic surgery on April 27, which ended his season.
On August 3, 2021, Prince was sent to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Ricky Rubio. He made his Wolves debut on October 20 and tied a season high of 23 points twice in early February 2022. After a play-in win over the Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota reached the playoffs for the first time since 2018 before falling to the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. He signed a two-year, $16 million contract extension on June 30, 2022, while also navigating a drug-related arrest at Miami International Airport that ultimately did not result in charges.
Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks (2023–Present)
Prince signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers on July 6, 2023. He made 78 appearances, including 49 starts, averaging 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists during the 2023–24 season. On December 9, 2023, he helped the Lakers win the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, claiming his first NBA Cup title.
On July 9, 2024, Prince signed with the Milwaukee Bucks and went on to make 80 appearances, including 73 starts, averaging 8.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 2024–25. On December 17, 2024, he won the 2024 NBA Cup, becoming the first player in league history to win multiple Cup championships. He re-signed with Milwaukee on July 1, 2025, on a two-year, $7.1 million deal, then underwent surgery in November 2025 for a herniated disc in his neck. He returned to action on March 10, 2026, after a four-month absence.
Playing Style and Strengths
Prince plays both small forward and power forward, giving his coaches lineup flexibility at 6 feet 6 inches tall. He is a reliable three-point shooter who has run off long made-three streaks in the past, and he is willing to attack the glass for his size. His veteran spacing and switchable defense have allowed him to fit cleanly into contending rotations in Los Angeles and Milwaukee.
Notable Events and Milestones
Prince set career highs of 38 points in consecutive games in March 2018 during his time with Atlanta. He became the first player in NBA history to win two NBA Cup titles, doing so in 2023 with the Lakers and 2024 with the Bucks. In the summer of 2015, he also helped the United States men’s national basketball team win a bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto.
Taurean Prince Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Prince honored his mother, Tamiyko, by adding her maiden name, Waller, to his own surname on the back of his Baylor jersey, which is how he came to be known as Taurean Waller-Prince. Public details about his parents and other relatives are limited beyond this well-known tribute.
Personal Life
Prince is a practicing Muslim and has spoken in post-game interviews about fasting for Ramadan. He wears the hyphenated name Waller-Prince professionally as a nod to his family’s heritage. Beyond these well-documented details, he keeps much of his personal life private.
2025 Season Performance
Prince began the 2025 calendar year in strong form with the Milwaukee Bucks after winning the 2024 NBA Cup the previous December. Through the first months of the campaign, he was a regular starter, providing floor spacing and switchable defense on a contending roster. His ability to stretch the floor and guard multiple positions kept him in head coach Doc Rivers’ rotation as the Bucks chased another deep playoff run.
On November 13, 2025, Prince underwent surgery for a herniated disc in his neck and was ruled out indefinitely, ending his immediate on-court contribution. He missed roughly four months while recovering before returning to action on March 10, 2026, against the Phoenix Suns. With the Bucks in the heart of the playoff picture, his veteran presence and three-point shooting remained valuable pieces of Milwaukee’s rotation once he got back on the floor.
