Taurean Prince Bio
Taurean Waller-Prince is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 220 pounds, he plays as a forward and has built a reputation as a reliable three-point shooter and versatile defender since entering the league in 2016. He played college basketball for the Baylor Bears, where his shooting and mature game drew national attention.
Over the course of his NBA career, Waller-Prince has played for the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Lakers before joining the Bucks. He is a two-time NBA Cup champion and the first player in league history to win multiple NBA Cup titles.
Early Life and Background
Taurean Waller-Prince was born on March 22, 1994, in San Marcos, Texas. He grew up in the Lone Star State and developed his basketball game in a region known for producing skilled, hard-nosed players. He later moved to San Antonio, where he attended Earl Warren High School and became one of the most promising prospects in the area.
At Earl Warren, Waller-Prince played three seasons of varsity basketball under head coach Jim Weaver. As a senior, he led the Chargers to the state semifinals, establishing himself as a player capable of performing on the biggest stages. His high school success attracted attention from college programs, and he originally committed to LIU Brooklyn before switching to Baylor following a coaching change within that program.
Path to Basketball
Waller-Prince arrived at Baylor and worked his way into the rotation as a freshman, playing 24 games off the bench while averaging 3.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in just 6.4 minutes per game. The following year, he appeared in all 38 of the Bears’ games, increasing his production to 6.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 14.2 minutes per contest. That sophomore season earned him the Big 12 Sixth Man Award and second-team All-Big 12 honors, signaling his emergence as a key piece of the program.
As an upperclassman, Waller-Prince was widely regarded as one of the top players in the Big 12 Conference. ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla labeled him a strong candidate for Big 12 Player of the Year heading into the 2015–16 season, and he went on to earn first-team All-Big 12 recognition. He also represented the United States on the national stage, helping the U.S. men’s national basketball team win the bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games.
Taurean Prince Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
On June 23, 2016, Taurean Waller-Prince was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 12th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft. His draft rights were later traded to the Atlanta Hawks on July 7 in a three-team deal, and he signed his rookie-scale contract with Atlanta on July 15. As a rookie, he flashed the scoring touch that made him a lottery pick, posting 17 points in a March 2017 win over the Memphis Grizzlies and a career-high 20 points against the Boston Celtics on April 6, 2017. In the playoffs, he became the first Hawks rookie since Pete Maravich in 1971 to score in double figures in his first four postseason games.
Waller-Prince’s second season was a breakout campaign. He set new career highs multiple times, including 30 points and 10 rebounds against the Toronto Raptors on December 29, 2017, 31 points versus the Boston Celtics on February 2, 2018, and 38 points in back-to-back games against the Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks in March 2018. He also drilled seven of eight three-pointers in a 112–106 win over the Celtics on April 8, 2018, showcasing the perimeter shooting that would define much of his career.
Brooklyn Nets (2019–2021)
On July 6, 2019, Waller-Prince was traded to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a deal that sent Allen Crabbe and a first-round pick to Atlanta. He signed a two-year, $29 million contract extension with the Nets on October 21, 2019, and made his Brooklyn debut two days later with 15 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and two steals in an overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He scored a season-high 27 points in a November 1, 2019 win over the Houston Rockets and settled into a stretch-forward role for a contending team. The 2019–20 season was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Waller-Prince tested positive for the virus in July 2020, forcing him to miss the NBA Bubble restart.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2021)
On January 14, 2021, Taurean Waller-Prince was traded, along with center Jarrett Allen, to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a four-team deal that ultimately sent James Harden to Brooklyn. He made an immediate impact in his debut on January 20, posting 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in a 147–135 double-overtime win over his former Nets teammates. He scored a season-high 25 points in a win over the Charlotte Hornets on April 14, 2021, but his season ended shortly thereafter when he underwent successful left ankle arthroscopic surgery on April 27.
Minnesota Timberwolves (2021–2023)
Waller-Prince was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves on August 3, 2021, in a deal that sent Ricky Rubio to Cleveland. He debuted for Minnesota on October 20, 2021, and later that season scored 23 points in back-to-back wins over the Denver Nuggets and the Detroit Pistons in early February 2022. After a play-in tournament victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, the Timberwolves reached the playoffs for the first time since 2018, though they fell to the Memphis Grizzlies in six games. On June 30, 2022, Waller-Prince signed a two-year, $16 million contract extension with Minnesota.
Los Angeles Lakers (2023–2024)
On July 6, 2023, Taurean Waller-Prince signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. He appeared in 78 games with 49 starts during the 2023–24 season, averaging 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while providing veteran shooting and defensive versatility. On December 9, 2023, he helped the Lakers win the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, earning his first NBA Cup championship ring.
Milwaukee Bucks Era (2024–Present)
Waller-Prince joined the Milwaukee Bucks on July 9, 2024, and quickly made history. On December 17, 2024, he and the Bucks won the 2024 NBA Cup, making him the first player in league history to win multiple NBA Cup titles. He played 80 games with 73 starts in 2024–25, averaging 8.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists as a steady contributor on a contender. On July 1, 2025, he re-signed with Milwaukee on a two-year, $7.1 million contract, cementing his long-term future with the franchise.
Notable Events and Milestones
Waller-Prince’s signature accomplishments include his historic back-to-back NBA Cup championships with the Lakers and Bucks, his late-season scoring explosions as a young Atlanta Hawk, and his role in the January 2021 four-team trade that helped reshape three different rosters. He also set a notable franchise record as a Hawks rookie by scoring in double figures in his first four playoff games, a feat not accomplished by a Hawks rookie since Pete Maravich in 1971.
Taurean Prince Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Waller-Prince honored his mother, Tamiyko, by adding her maiden name, Waller, to the back of his jersey, becoming known as Taurean Waller-Prince in college and beyond. He is a Muslim and has spoken publicly about his faith, including discussing his experience of fasting during Ramadan in a postgame interview.
In August 2022, Waller-Prince was briefly detained at Miami International Airport on an out-of-state fugitive warrant from Texas related to a dangerous drugs charge. By November 19, 2022, prosecutors announced that he would not face charges in connection with the arrest.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year began with Waller-Prince holding a prominent role on a Milwaukee Bucks team built to contend in the Eastern Conference. After helping the franchise win the 2024 NBA Cup, he continued to provide three-point shooting, positional size, and veteran poise on both ends of the floor. He re-signed with the Bucks on July 1, 2025, agreeing to a two-year, $7.1 million contract that signals the organization’s confidence in his continued contribution.
Waller-Prince’s season was interrupted on November 13, 2025, when he suffered a herniated disc in his neck and was ruled out indefinitely after undergoing surgery. The injury marked the most significant health setback of his career and is expected to keep him sidelined for an extended stretch as he works through recovery. His teammates and the Bucks organization expressed support as he began the rehabilitation process.
Looking ahead, Waller-Prince remains a key piece of Milwaukee’s rotation whenever he returns to full health. His track record of hitting timely three-pointers, defending multiple positions, and performing in high-stakes games gives the Bucks a dependable wing option down the stretch. With his contract running through 2026, he has both the security and the motivation to contribute to another deep Bucks playoff run.