Tayshaun Prince facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tayshaun Prince

Prince with the Detroit Pistons in 2008
Memphis Grizzlies
Vice President of Basketball Affairs
Personal information
Born	(1980-02-28) February 28, 1980 (age 45) Compton, California, U.S.
High school	Dominguez (Compton, California)
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
College	Kentucky (1998–2002)
NBA Draft	2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23rd overall
Selected by the Detroit Pistons
Pro career	2002–2016
League	NBA
Career history
2002–2013	Detroit Pistons
2013–2015	Memphis Grizzlies
2015	Boston Celtics
2015	Detroit Pistons
2015–2016	Minnesota Timberwolves
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (2004) 4× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2005–2008) Consensus second-team All-American (2001) Second-team All-American – NABC (2002) Third-team All-American – AP (2002) SEC Player of the Year (2001) SEC tournament MVP (2001) 2× First-team All-SEC (2001, 2002) Second-team All-SEC (2000) McDonald's All-American (1998) Second-team Parade All-American (1998) California Mr. Basketball (1998)
Career NBA statistics
Points	11,272 (11.1 ppg)
Rebounds	4,332 (4.3 rpg)
Assists	2,406 (2.4 apg)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  United States Olympic Games Gold 2008 Beijing National Team FIBA Americas Championship Gold 2007 Las Vegas National Team

Tayshaun Durell Prince (born February 28, 1980) is an American basketball expert and former player. He played as a small forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall, Prince is best known for his time with the Detroit Pistons. He helped them win an NBA championship in 2004. After retiring as a player in 2016, he became the Vice President of Basketball Affairs for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Prince is famous for a play called "The Block" during the 2004 NBA playoffs. He made an amazing defensive play that stopped an opponent from scoring. This helped his team win a very important game.

College Basketball Career

Tayshaun Prince played four seasons for the Kentucky Wildcats from 1998 to 2002. During his time there, the team had a great record of 97 wins and 39 losses. They also made it to the NCAA Tournament every year.

In his junior year (2000–2001), Prince was named the SEC Player of the Year. He also led the SEC in free throw percentage. Kentucky won the SEC Tournament in 1999 and 2001, and Prince was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2001 tournament. He was also named the team's MVP three times.

Prince had some amazing games in college. In one game against North Carolina, he scored 31 points and made five three-point shots in a row. In another game during the 2002 NCAA Tournament, he scored a career-high 41 points against Tulsa. He earned a degree in sociology from Kentucky in 2002.

College Awards and Honors

• SEC Player of the Year (2001)
• Consensus second team All-American (2001)
• NABC All-American Second Team (2002)
• AP All-American Third Team (2002)
• First Team All-SEC (2001, 2002)
• SEC Tournament MVP (2001)
• SEC All-Tournament Team (2001)

Professional Basketball Career

Playing for the Detroit Pistons (2002–2013)

Rookie Season and Championship Win (2002–2004)

When Tayshaun Prince first joined the Detroit Pistons in 2002, he didn't play much. But in the 2003 NBA playoffs, his team was losing. His coach decided to give Prince more playing time. He played so well that he scored more points in the playoffs than he did in the regular season!

The Pistons came back to win that series. Prince continued to play a big role. In the next season (2003–04), he became a starter for the team. He improved his scoring average a lot.

In 2004, Prince made a famous defensive play in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers. He made an incredible block on Reggie Miller that helped the Pistons win the game. This play is still known as "The Block." The Pistons went on to win the NBA championship that year. Prince's strong defense against Kobe Bryant in the Finals was a key reason for their victory.

All-Defensive Team Selections (2004–2008)

Prince kept getting better in the 2004–05 season. He scored more points and grabbed more rebounds. He was chosen for the NBA's NBA All-Defensive Second Team because of his excellent defense. The Pistons made it to the NBA Finals again in 2005, but they lost to the San Antonio Spurs.

During a difficult moment in a game in 2004, Prince was the only player who stayed calm and did not get involved in a big argument. The Pistons rewarded Prince with a new five-year contract in 2005.

He continued to play well in the following seasons. He played in all 82 regular season games in 2005–06 and 2006–07. The Pistons reached the Eastern Conference Finals in both 2006 and 2007, but they were eliminated. Prince continued to be a strong defender and a key player for the team.

Prince with the Pistons in April 2008

Later Years in Detroit (2008–2013)

Prince started the 2008–09 season very strong, scoring almost 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds per game. His overall performance helped the Pistons reach the playoffs. However, they were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.

Playing for the Memphis Grizzlies (2013–2015)

Prince with the Grizzlies

In January 2013, Prince was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. He was a good fit for the Grizzlies' tough, defensive style of play. The Grizzlies had their best season ever that year, winning 56 games. They also made it to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in team history.

Even though he had an injury before the 2013–14 season, Prince still played in 76 games. He continued to be a reliable player for the Grizzlies.

Playing for the Boston Celtics (2015)

In January 2015, Prince was traded to the Boston Celtics. He played well in his debut game for the Celtics, scoring 19 points and helping them win.

Return to Detroit (2015)

Just a month later, in February 2015, Prince was traded back to the Detroit Pistons. This was a short return to the team where he had spent most of his career.

Playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves (2015–2016)

In August 2015, Prince signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played one season with them. His final NBA game was in April 2016, after which he retired from playing basketball.

National Team Career

Tayshaun Prince was chosen to play for Team USA in 2007. They competed in a tournament to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. Prince's strong defense helped Team USA win every game in that tournament.

In 2008, Prince was selected to be part of the Olympic team. This team was called the "Redeem Team" because they wanted to win the gold medal after not winning it in previous Olympics. Prince came off the bench and helped Team USA win the gold medal, defeating Spain in the final.

Prince was recognized for his role on the 2008 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team. He was named as a member of the Class of 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame.

Executive Career

After he stopped playing, Tayshaun Prince started working in basketball management. In August 2017, he joined the Memphis Grizzlies as a special assistant to the general manager. In April 2019, he was promoted to Vice President of Basketball Affairs for the Grizzlies.

Honors and Achievements

• 2004 NBA champion
• 2005–2008 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
• Gold medal with U.S. national team at 2007 FIBA Americas Championship
• Gold medal with U.S. national team at 2008 Summer Olympics
• 2022 - Selected for the 2022 Southern California Basketball Hall of Fame (SCBBHOF)

NBA Career Statistics

Regular Season

Playoffs

Images for kids

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  Prince with the Detroit Pistons in 2008