Tayshaun Prince
Encyclopedia
Tayshaun Durell Prince is an American
basketball
player who last played for the Detroit Pistons
in the National Basketball Association
. Prince is a small forward
, listed at and 215 lb (97.5 kg; 15.4 st). A graduate of Dominguez High School
and the University of Kentucky
, Prince was drafted in the first round (23rd overall) by the Pistons in the 2002 NBA Draft
. Prince wears the jersey #22 as a result of his draft position, signifying the 22 teams that passed on drafting him. His college #21 was previously retired by the Pistons in honor of guard Dave Bing
.
and 5.7 rebounds
as the Wildcats posted a 97–39 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament each year. The furthest the Wildcats made in the tournament was the regional finals, losing to the Michigan State Spartans. Prince won SEC Player of the Year
in his junior season (2000–2001) – also leading the SEC in free throw
percentage (84.3%) – and was named to the Associated Press All-SEC Teams in both his junior and senior years. Kentucky won the SEC Tournament in 1999 and 2001, and Prince was awarded the 2001 tournament's Most Valuable Player award.
Notable individual performances included a 31 point, 11 rebound, four assist
, four steal
effort in a 79–59 victory over North Carolina. In scoring Kentucky's first fifteen points, Prince made five consecutive three-point shots. Kentucky shooting guard Keith Bogans compared Prince's performance to "the Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan blistering Portland in the 1992 NBA Finals." In an 87–82 victory over Tulsa during the 2002 NCAA Tournament, Prince scored a career-high 41 points (along with nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks) to lead Kentucky to the Sweet 16. He graduated from Kentucky in 2002 with a degree in sociology
.
season under head coach
Rick Carlisle
, Prince was not a member of the team's playing rotation and appeared in just 42 of 82 regular-season games. However, in the first round of the 2003 NBA Playoffs
, Detroit trailed the Orlando Magic
three games to one, forcing Carlisle to experiment with a different rotation. Prince was inserted into the lineup and received heavy minutes. He then became the only player in NBA history to score more points in the playoffs
than in the regular season (137 in the season, 141 in the playoffs).
The Pistons rallied to win the series, and Prince had a breakout performance during the decisive seventh game, scoring 20 points in 24 minutes. In the second round against the Philadelphia 76ers
, Prince continued to see action and made several memorable plays, including a turnaround hook shot
during the final seconds of Game 2, forcing an overtime period that the Pistons went on to win.
in the Eastern Conference Finals, Carlisle was fired and former Sixers coach Larry Brown
took over as head coach. Under Brown, Prince became the Pistons' starting small forward and increased his scoring average to 10.3 points per game, up from 3.3 as a rookie. In that 2003–04 season, Prince was also selected to play for the Sophomores (second-year players) in the NBA Rookie Challenge
.
, Prince made a memorable defensive play. In the final minute of the game, Pacer star shooting guard Reggie Miller
took an outlet pass after an Indiana steal and sprinted up the right sideline for a seemingly uncontested basket that would have tied the score. Prince pursued from the left sideline. Miller, presumably thinking that Prince could not catch him, attempted a layup
. At the last possible moment, Prince soared in from the other side of the basket and swatted
the ball away; the ball landed in bounds and was scooped up by Pistons teammate Richard Hamilton
, effectively ending the game. The Pistons went on to win the series and, eventually, the NBA championship
. When the Pistons defeated the Los Angeles Lakers
four games to one in the NBA Finals, Prince's tough defense on Lakers guard Kobe Bryant
was credited as a key factor in the Pistons' victory, holding Bryant to only 11 points in an 88–68 win in Game 3 of the 2004 NBA Finals
.
and was a candidate for the NBA Most Improved Player Award
, where he came in third behind winner Bobby Simmons
of the Los Angeles Clippers
and Primož Brezec
of the Charlotte Bobcats
. Although he and the Pistons made it back to the NBA Finals in 2005
, they lost to the San Antonio Spurs
in seven games.
Prince's play was rewarded by the Pistons with a five year contract extension worth $49 million on October 31, 2005.
, the Pistons were eliminated by the Miami Heat
in the Eastern Conference Finals.
in six games.
in game six.
. The Cavaliers swept the Pistons in four games, and Prince's production from the season dropped drastically, as he averaged only 3.8 points and 3.5 rebounds.
and earn a spot at the 2008 Summer Olympics
.
On June 23, 2008, Prince was selected for the Olympic squad along with eleven others in the hope of fulfilling the ambition of winning their first gold medal since the 2000 Summer Olympics
. Team USA went on to do exactly that, going unbeaten in the tournament with Prince coming off the bench and defeating 2006 World Champion
Spain in the final, living up to their "Redeem Team" moniker.
| style="text-align:left;"| 2002–03
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 42 || 5 || 10.4 || .449 || .426 || .647 || 1.1 || .6 || .2 || .3 || 3.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2003–04
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 82 || 80 || 32.9 || .467 || .363 || .766 || 4.8 || 2.3 || .8 || .8 || 10.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 82 || 82 || 37.1 || .487 || .341 || .807 || 5.3 || 3.0 || .7 || .9 || 14.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2005–06
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 82 || 82 || 35.3 || .455 || .350 || .765 || 4.2 || 2.3 || .8 || .5 || 14.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2006–07
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 82 || 82 || 36.6 || .460 || .386 || .768 || 5.2 || 2.8 || .6 || .7 || 14.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2007–08
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 82 || 82 || 32.9 || .448 || .363 || .768 || 4.9 || 3.3 || .5 || .4 || 13.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 82 || 82 || 37.3 || .450 || .397 || .778 || 5.8 || 3.1 || .5 || .6 || 14.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2009–10
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 49 || 49 || 34.0 || .486 || .370 || .714 || 5.1 || 3.3 || .7 || .4 || 13.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 78 || 78 || 32.8 || .473 || .347 || .702 || 4.2 || 2.8 || .4 || .5 || 14.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Career
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 661 || 622 || 33.4 || .464 || .368 || .764 || 4.7 || 2.7 || .6 || .6 || 12.9
| style="text-align:left;"| 2002–03
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 15 || 3 || 25.5 || .426 || .292 || .763 || 3.8 || 1.5 || .5 || .9 || 9.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2003–04
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 23 || 23 || 34.6 || .410 || .265 || .745 || 6.0 || 2.3 || 1.1 || 1.4 || 9.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 25 || 25 || 40.9 || .433 || .367 || .800 || 6.3 || 3.3 || 1.0 || .4 || 13.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2005–06
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 18 || 18 || 41.4 || .459 || .457 || .829 || 5.7 || 3.0 || .7 || .8 || 16.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2006–07
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 16 || 16 || 41.6 || .415 || .409 || .759 || 6.4 || 3.8 || .9 || .3 || 14.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2007–08
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 17 || 17 || 39.5 || .481 || .320 || .794 || 5.5 || 3.2 || .8 || .5 || 13.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 4 || 4 || 32.3 || .259 || .200 || – || 3.5 || 1.3 || .2 || .0 || 3.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Career
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 118 || 106 || 37.4 || .435 || .350 || .785 || 5.6 || 2.8 || .9 || .7 || 12.5
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who last played for the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. Prince is a small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
, listed at and 215 lb (97.5 kg; 15.4 st). A graduate of Dominguez High School
Dominguez High School
Dominguez High School is a four-year secondary school located in Compton, California. It is part of the Compton Unified School District.The school's current principal is Rigoberto Roman...
and the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
, Prince was drafted in the first round (23rd overall) by the Pistons in the 2002 NBA Draft
2002 NBA Draft
The 2002 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2002 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting 57 amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from non-North...
. Prince wears the jersey #22 as a result of his draft position, signifying the 22 teams that passed on drafting him. His college #21 was previously retired by the Pistons in honor of guard Dave Bing
Dave Bing
David "Dave" Bing is the mayor of Detroit, Michigan, a businessman, and a retired American professional basketball player who played 12 seasons in the National Basketball Association , primarily for the Detroit Pistons...
.
College career
Prince played four seasons (1998 to 2002) for the University of Kentucky Wildcats, averaging 13.2 pointsPoint (basketball)
Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....
and 5.7 rebounds
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
as the Wildcats posted a 97–39 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament each year. The furthest the Wildcats made in the tournament was the regional finals, losing to the Michigan State Spartans. Prince won SEC Player of the Year
SEC Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Southeastern Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is an award given to the player who has proven himself, throughout the season, to be the most exceptional talent in the Southeastern Conference. The school with the most SEC Player of the Year award winners is Kentucky, with 13 total...
in his junior season (2000–2001) – also leading the SEC in free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
percentage (84.3%) – and was named to the Associated Press All-SEC Teams in both his junior and senior years. Kentucky won the SEC Tournament in 1999 and 2001, and Prince was awarded the 2001 tournament's Most Valuable Player award.
Notable individual performances included a 31 point, 11 rebound, four assist
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
, four steal
Steal (basketball)
In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player...
effort in a 79–59 victory over North Carolina. In scoring Kentucky's first fifteen points, Prince made five consecutive three-point shots. Kentucky shooting guard Keith Bogans compared Prince's performance to "the Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan blistering Portland in the 1992 NBA Finals." In an 87–82 victory over Tulsa during the 2002 NCAA Tournament, Prince scored a career-high 41 points (along with nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks) to lead Kentucky to the Sweet 16. He graduated from Kentucky in 2002 with a degree in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
.
Rookie year
In his rookieRookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season under head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Rick Carlisle
Rick Carlisle
Richard Preston Carlisle is the head coach of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. He has also coached the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons, and was previously a player in the NBA. He is also one of the only 11 people to win an NBA championship both as a player and as a coach.-Playing career:Carlisle...
, Prince was not a member of the team's playing rotation and appeared in just 42 of 82 regular-season games. However, in the first round of the 2003 NBA Playoffs
2003 NBA Playoffs
The 2003 NBA playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2002-03 NBA season. This postseason was notable for being the first time all series were conducted in a best-of-7 format. It was also the only time in playoff history that no team was swept in a first-round series....
, Detroit trailed the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
three games to one, forcing Carlisle to experiment with a different rotation. Prince was inserted into the lineup and received heavy minutes. He then became the only player in NBA history to score more points in the playoffs
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
than in the regular season (137 in the season, 141 in the playoffs).
The Pistons rallied to win the series, and Prince had a breakout performance during the decisive seventh game, scoring 20 points in 24 minutes. In the second round against the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
, Prince continued to see action and made several memorable plays, including a turnaround hook shot
Hook shot
A hook shot, in basketball, is a play in which the offensive player, usually turned perpendicular to the basket, gently throws the ball with a sweeping motion of his arm in an upward arc with a follow-through which ends over his head. Unlike the jump shot, it is shot with only one hand; the other...
during the final seconds of Game 2, forcing an overtime period that the Pistons went on to win.
2003–04 season
After the Pistons were swept by the New Jersey NetsNew Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the Eastern Conference Finals, Carlisle was fired and former Sixers coach Larry Brown
Larry Brown (basketball)
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" Brown is an American basketball coach and former player. He most recently served as head coach of the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Bobcats....
took over as head coach. Under Brown, Prince became the Pistons' starting small forward and increased his scoring average to 10.3 points per game, up from 3.3 as a rookie. In that 2003–04 season, Prince was also selected to play for the Sophomores (second-year players) in the NBA Rookie Challenge
Rookie Challenge
The Rookie Challenge is an exhibition basketball game held by the National Basketball Association on the Friday before the annual All-Star Game as part of the All-Star Weekend....
.
"The Block"
In Game 2 of the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana PacersIndiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, Prince made a memorable defensive play. In the final minute of the game, Pacer star shooting guard Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller
Reginald Wayne "Reggie" Miller is a retired American professional basketball player who played his entire 18-year National Basketball Association career with the Indiana Pacers...
took an outlet pass after an Indiana steal and sprinted up the right sideline for a seemingly uncontested basket that would have tied the score. Prince pursued from the left sideline. Miller, presumably thinking that Prince could not catch him, attempted a layup
Layup
A layup in basketball is a two-point shot attempt made by leaping from below, laying the ball up near the basket, and using one hand to bounce it off the backboard and into the basket. The motion and one-handed reach distinguish it from a jump shot. The layup is considered the most basic shot in...
. At the last possible moment, Prince soared in from the other side of the basket and swatted
Block (basketball)
In basketball, a block , not to be confused with blocking, occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player. The defender must not touch the offensive player's hands or otherwise a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot...
the ball away; the ball landed in bounds and was scooped up by Pistons teammate Richard Hamilton
Richard Hamilton (basketball)
Richard "Rip" Hamilton is an American basketball player who currently plays for the Detroit Pistons. Hamilton is 6'7" tall, weighs 193 lbs , and plays shooting guard. He currently is the Pistons' team captain....
, effectively ending the game. The Pistons went on to win the series and, eventually, the NBA championship
2004 NBA Finals
The 2004 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2003–04 National Basketball Association season. The Finals were between the Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference and the Detroit Pistons of the Eastern Conference; the Lakers held home court advantage...
. When the Pistons defeated the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
four games to one in the NBA Finals, Prince's tough defense on Lakers guard Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
was credited as a key factor in the Pistons' victory, holding Bryant to only 11 points in an 88–68 win in Game 3 of the 2004 NBA Finals
2004 NBA Finals
The 2004 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2003–04 National Basketball Association season. The Finals were between the Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference and the Detroit Pistons of the Eastern Conference; the Lakers held home court advantage...
.
2004–05 season
Prince continued to show improvement in the 2004–05 season, setting career highs in scoring (14.7 points per game), rebounding (5.3 per game), assists (3.0) and blocks (0.9). He was selected for the NBA's All-Defensive Second TeamNBA All-Defensive Team
The NBA All-Defensive Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1968–69 NBA season to the best defensive players during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; the coaches are not allowed to vote for players on their own team...
and was a candidate for the NBA Most Improved Player Award
NBA Most Improved Player Award
The National Basketball Association's Most Improved Player Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1985–86 NBA season, to the most improved player of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States and Canada,...
, where he came in third behind winner Bobby Simmons
Bobby Simmons
Bobby Simmons is an American professional basketball player.-College career:Simmons played three years of college basketball for DePaul University...
of the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
and Primož Brezec
Primož Brezec
Primož Brezec is a Slovenian professional basketball player with Lokomotiv Kuban of the Russian Super League. He is a 7 ft 1 in tall center. Brezec has played seven seasons in the NBA.-Europe:...
of the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
. Although he and the Pistons made it back to the NBA Finals in 2005
2005 NBA Finals
The 2005 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2004-05 National Basketball Association season. The San Antonio Spurs of the Western Conference faced the Detroit Pistons of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Spurs holding home court advantage. The series was played under a...
, they lost to the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
in seven games.
Prince's play was rewarded by the Pistons with a five year contract extension worth $49 million on October 31, 2005.
2005–06 season
In the 2005–06 season, Prince played in all 82 regular season games, averaging 14.1 points and 4.2 rebounds a game. In the playoffs2006 NBA Playoffs
The 2006 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2005–06 season. The Miami Heat won the first championship in the history of the franchise by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the 2006 NBA Finals...
, the Pistons were eliminated by the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
in the Eastern Conference Finals.
2006–07 season
In the 2006–07 season, Prince returned similar statistics to his 2004–05 campaign: 14.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. In the playoffs the Pistons were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals by the Cleveland CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
in six games.
2007–08 season
In the 2007–08 season, Prince played and started in all 82 regular season games, averaging 13.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. In the playoffs, Prince averaged 13.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, but the Pistons were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals by the Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
in game six.
2008–09 season
Prince started the season off strong while averaging nearly 16 points and seven rebounds a game. As the season started to progress Prince's production started to slump and by the end of the season he averaged 14.2 points and 5.8 rebounds. Although his points per game average dropped, he averaged a career high in rebounds per game. Prince's effort helped push the Pistons to the playoffs as they gained the 8th seed with 39 wins. Although the Pistons made the playoffs, they were seeded against the top seed Cleveland CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
. The Cavaliers swept the Pistons in four games, and Prince's production from the season dropped drastically, as he averaged only 3.8 points and 3.5 rebounds.
International career
On August 20, 2007, Prince was selected to be a part of Team USA that competed at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, a qualifying tournament for the Beijing Olympics. With his defensive poise, he contributed in the USA's unbeaten record at the tournament held in Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and earn a spot at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
.
On June 23, 2008, Prince was selected for the Olympic squad along with eleven others in the hope of fulfilling the ambition of winning their first gold medal since the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. Team USA went on to do exactly that, going unbeaten in the tournament with Prince coming off the bench and defeating 2006 World Champion
2006 FIBA World Championship
The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation , Japan Basketball Association and the 2006 Organizing Committee...
Spain in the final, living up to their "Redeem Team" moniker.
Honors/achievements
- 2004 NBA Champion
- 2004–05 NBA All-Defensive Second TeamNBA All-Defensive TeamThe NBA All-Defensive Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1968–69 NBA season to the best defensive players during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; the coaches are not allowed to vote for players on their own team...
- 2005–06 NBA All-Defensive Second TeamNBA All-Defensive TeamThe NBA All-Defensive Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1968–69 NBA season to the best defensive players during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; the coaches are not allowed to vote for players on their own team...
- 2006–07 NBA All-Defensive Second TeamNBA All-Defensive TeamThe NBA All-Defensive Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1968–69 NBA season to the best defensive players during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; the coaches are not allowed to vote for players on their own team...
- 2007–08 NBA All-Defensive Second TeamNBA All-Defensive TeamThe NBA All-Defensive Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1968–69 NBA season to the best defensive players during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; the coaches are not allowed to vote for players on their own team...
- Gold Medal with Team USA, 2007 Tournament of Americas Olympic Qualifiers
- Gold Medal with Team USA, 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer OlympicsThe 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
- Had a cameo in the 2006 movie, Hood of HorrorHood of HorrorHood of Horror is a horror film adaptation of a fictional comic book, which is an anthology of three short tales set in an urban milieu in a style reminiscent of Tales From The Crypt and Tales from the Hood. The movie debuted at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival...
, starring Snoop Dogg. He was cast as Footloose, a guy with his lower legs cut off.
Regular season
|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2002–03
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
| 42 || 5 || 10.4 || .449 || .426 || .647 || 1.1 || .6 || .2 || .3 || 3.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2003–04
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 82 || 80 || 32.9 || .467 || .363 || .766 || 4.8 || 2.3 || .8 || .8 || 10.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 82 || 82 || 37.1 || .487 || .341 || .807 || 5.3 || 3.0 || .7 || .9 || 14.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2005–06
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 82 || 82 || 35.3 || .455 || .350 || .765 || 4.2 || 2.3 || .8 || .5 || 14.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2006–07
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 82 || 82 || 36.6 || .460 || .386 || .768 || 5.2 || 2.8 || .6 || .7 || 14.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2007–08
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 82 || 82 || 32.9 || .448 || .363 || .768 || 4.9 || 3.3 || .5 || .4 || 13.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 82 || 82 || 37.3 || .450 || .397 || .778 || 5.8 || 3.1 || .5 || .6 || 14.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2009–10
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 49 || 49 || 34.0 || .486 || .370 || .714 || 5.1 || 3.3 || .7 || .4 || 13.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11
2010–11 NBA season
The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 78 || 78 || 32.8 || .473 || .347 || .702 || 4.2 || 2.8 || .4 || .5 || 14.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Career
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 661 || 622 || 33.4 || .464 || .368 || .764 || 4.7 || 2.7 || .6 || .6 || 12.9
Playoffs
|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2002–03
2003 NBA Playoffs
The 2003 NBA playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2002-03 NBA season. This postseason was notable for being the first time all series were conducted in a best-of-7 format. It was also the only time in playoff history that no team was swept in a first-round series....
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
| 15 || 3 || 25.5 || .426 || .292 || .763 || 3.8 || 1.5 || .5 || .9 || 9.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2003–04
2004 NBA Playoffs
The 2004 NBA Playoffs were the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2003–04 season. Consisting of 16 teams in two conferences, the playoffs involved about two months of play. The playoffs were conducted in seven-game series, with the team with the better record holding home court...
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 23 || 23 || 34.6 || .410 || .265 || .745 || 6.0 || 2.3 || 1.1 || 1.4 || 9.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05
2005 NBA Playoffs
The 2005 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2004–05 season.The San Antonio Spurs, the number two ranked team in the Western Conference, won the 2005 NBA Playoffs by defeating the defending champions, the Detroit Pistons, 4-3 in the NBA Finals...
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 25 || 25 || 40.9 || .433 || .367 || .800 || 6.3 || 3.3 || 1.0 || .4 || 13.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2005–06
2006 NBA Playoffs
The 2006 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2005–06 season. The Miami Heat won the first championship in the history of the franchise by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the 2006 NBA Finals...
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 18 || 18 || 41.4 || .459 || .457 || .829 || 5.7 || 3.0 || .7 || .8 || 16.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2006–07
2007 NBA Playoffs
The 2007 NBA Playoffs was the postseason to the National Basketball Association's 2006–2007 season.There were four rounds of postseason action, all of them in a best-of-seven format, with teams seeded on a bracket. The team with the better record wasn't necessarily the basis of seeding teams in...
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 16 || 16 || 41.6 || .415 || .409 || .759 || 6.4 || 3.8 || .9 || .3 || 14.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2007–08
2008 NBA Playoffs
The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 17 || 17 || 39.5 || .481 || .320 || .794 || 5.5 || 3.2 || .8 || .5 || 13.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09
2009 NBA Playoffs
The 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit
| 4 || 4 || 32.3 || .259 || .200 || – || 3.5 || 1.3 || .2 || .0 || 3.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Career
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 118 || 106 || 37.4 || .435 || .350 || .785 || 5.6 || 2.8 || .9 || .7 || 12.5