MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince always believed he would return this season after undergoing neck surgery in November.
His coach isn’t so sure.
“It’s cool because, honestly, I didn’t think he was going to play this year,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday, the first time Prince has returned to the court since a 129-114 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 4. “The fact that he worked his way back out there, it all comes down to him and who he is.”
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Prince underwent surgery in November to repair a herniated disc in his neck. Prince said he didn’t know of anyone who had such surgery and returned to play in the same season.
This made him even more focused on accomplishing the feat, even though he was told his recovery had to be flawless to achieve this goal.
“I always tell myself, this is the season,” Prince said. “I never thought not.”
He’s making that possibility a reality with the same tenacious approach that has allowed the 31-year-old to build a 10-year NBA career. After starting 73 games for the Bucks in 2024-25, he played eight games off the bench this season before getting injured.
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Prince noted that he has had three surgeries in the past five years, which has been helpful in his recent comeback because it gave him some idea of what to expect next. Even when he’s not playing, he stays close to the team and helps out in any way he can.
“When he got hurt, we grabbed him and told him, ‘Welcome to the coaching staff,’ because that’s basically what he’s been like this year,” Rivers said. “At first, that was true. He was in a brace and couldn’t do anything. Then as his neck started to heal, hope came.”
Prince credited his wife and children with helping him through his recovery. He also praised the Bucks for always making him feel like a part of the team, even if he couldn’t play.
“My jersey still hangs every game, little things like that,” Prince said. “I’ve always been able to hold my own and still speak my mind on film. I never felt like an outsider, which helped.”
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Prince also earned the respect of his teammates.
Center Myles Turner noted that Prince has remained optimistic during his recovery process. He noted that Prince always encouraged his teammates and was usually one of the first to arrive every day.
“He’s the epitome of a professional,” Turner said.
Prince still had a lot of rust to shake off on his way back. Prince played 18 minutes on Tuesday and had four rebounds, but he missed all four of his shots and failed to score a point.
“I was pissed that I didn’t see the 3-pointer go down,” Prince said. “Live life day by day, that’s what it is. Starting tomorrow I don’t have to worry about it anymore. Go to work and I’ll find a guy to go to Miami (Thursday).”
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