"It was back to being a sponge": Taurean Prince reflects on his time with Lakers, and playing alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis
Veteren NBA forward Taurean Prince spent the 2023-24 season playing alongside league superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis with the LA Lakers. It was a stint that he said helped him a lot, both as an individual and a player.
The former Baylor star saw action in 78 games for the purple and gold, starting in 49 of the matches and averaging 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 27 minutes of play.
Prince helped the Lakers win the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament back in December but saw their campaign end in the opening round of the playoffs, losing to erstwhile defending champions the Denver Nuggets in five games.
The 30-year-old Texas native recently sat down with the "Run Your Race' podcast and shared, among other things, his experience with the Lakers, giving props to their dynamic duo of James and Davis as well as D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves.
Taurean Prince said:
"It was back to being a sponge [playing for the Lakers]. Taking a season of opportunity, seeing the work that him (James) and AD, even D'Angelo [put in] ... get an outside point of view on a guy like Austin Reaves and get around that group of guys has definitely elevated me from an individual standpoint and a basketball player standpoint..."
Check out what he had to say in the video, which was uploaded on YouTube on Wednesday, below, beginning at 51:47:
Prior to joining the Lakers last season, Taurean Prince, the 12th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, spent time with the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Last July, he signed with the Milwaukee Bucks to backstop the All-Star duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard for the 2024-25 NBA season.
Taurean Prince excited to play for the Milwaukee Bucks next season
While his stay with the LA Lakers lasted only for a season, Taurean Prince is now excited to play and contribute for the Milwaukee Bucks, whom he signed to play for next season back in July.
In the same interview on the "Ride Your Race" podcast, the 6-foot-6 wing player shared his thoughts on playing for the Bucks, who were booted out in the opening round of the playoffs last season after All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard limped out because of injuries.
Prince said (58:00):
"I'm super excited [to play for the Bucks]. I'm really just looking forward to asserting my authority, uh, defensively, like always trying to fly around and be that guy to make plays... And just bring that efficiency at the spot backing Khris [Middleton] ..."
With the Bucks, Taurean Prince reunites with Darvin Ham, who coached him with the Lakers last season. Ham returned to Milwaukee as lead assistant to head coach Doc Rivers.