Deep Dive: Taurean Prince And The Little Things That Matter
Despite his role player status, the 27-year-old has a serious part to play this season.
Taurean Prince entered the Minnesota Timberwolves fray this offseason with low expectations from the fan base. Sure, he was traded in for fan-favorite Ricky Rubio, which can be a curse in and of itself, but Prince has been a low-end role player over the past few years. Coming in, he was the penalty accrued for a salary dump. Little more than a throw-in.
Previously, he had been a sought-after wing defender and shooter after he averaged 14.1 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 38.5 percent from deep in his sophomore season, but he has steadily regressed since then. After being shipped out of Brooklyn into the Cleveland Cavaliers fold last season, he ended playing less than 25 minutes a night and starting just six of the 29 games he featured in.
Now, he’s in Minnesota. He probably won’t reach those starter levels again, but he matters more than he has in years. The main reason why is because he is healthy. On Media Day, he spoke of a debilitating ankle injury that severely hampered him on and off the court for several seasons. That’s now cleaned up, he has a defined and important role, and nothing is stopping him from contributing heavily to a team that needs those kinds of contributors.
This Wolves team doesn’t need more scoring or more playmaking. They don’t need more flash or more sizzle. They need players who do the little things. Who do them well and who do them like it’s second nature. Prince looks in line to have a bounce-back season athletically now that his injury woes have cleared up, but it’s the actions that stem from experience and want-to that will make the biggest impact.
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