Throughout his NBA career thus far, Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince has always been a player who thrives on rhythm. However, it's becoming increasingly clear these days that when that rhythm is off, his game can look disjointed and underwhelming.
Take Milwaukee's matchup against the Brooklyn Nets to start the New Year. The Bucks saw a version of Prince that Lakers fans from last season might recognize all too well—a streaky shooter struggling to make an impact outside of his primary role. He did score eight points after going 2-of-5 from 3-point land, but his defense and rebounding left much to be desired against a team that has had the Milwaukee Bucks' number this season.
Over his last five games, Prince has shot just 26.1 percent from three, a sharp decline from his otherwise impressive 45.4 percent clip for the season. This slump highlights his reliance on specific circumstances to succeed.
When Giannis Antetokounmpo is on the floor, Prince finds open looks as a spot-up shooter, capitalizing on the defensive attention Giannis draws. But without Giannis, his effectiveness wanes, and his weaknesses—particularly on defense and rebounding—become glaring.
The stats back this up very well. According to PBP Stats, Prince is shooting 51 percent from three when Giannis Antetokoumpo is playing, versus just 31 percent without him. It's getting clearer by the day that he tends to perform better when his shots are generated for him, which is not the worst thing in the world. As a spot-up shooter, Prince is second to none in the association. But anything more than that leads to very mixed results for the Milwaukee Bucks forward.
Taurean Prince performs best as a complementary piece
Against a young and energetic team with length at every position like Brooklyn, Prince’s propensity to coast on the defensive side of the ball was completely exposed. He struggled to stay in front of quicker and smaller opponents and failed to contribute meaningfully on the boards. Lakers fans saw this same inconsistency during his stint in Los Angeles, where he oscillated between games of torrid shooting and ones where he seemed invisible.
To be fair, most of this Bucks team turned in sluggish performances against the Nets, which has become a common trend as of late when matched up against ostensibly lesser opposition.
But Prince’s value lies in his ability to stretch the floor and knock down shots in a limited role, and this was always understood from the moment he was picked up. When he's asked to do more—whether as a defensive stopper on the perimeter, rebounder or just an energy guy on both ends—his impact almost completely diminishes.
For the Milwaukee Bucks, this only highlights the importance of maintaining the right conditions for him to thrive while also managing expectations for what he can provide consistently.
The Bucks are learning what many teams before them have: Prince is best as a role player in specific situations. If Milwaukee can keep him in a complementary role alongside their stars, they’ll get the most out of his shooting and minimize his slumps. But relying on him for more could lead to performances that mirror his recent struggles.
Taurean Prince’s inconsistency is starting to frustrate Milwaukee Bucks fans, but for Lakers fans, this is all too familiar. One night, he’s knocking down every open shot and spacing the floor perfectly. The next, he’s missing everything, getting blown by defensively, and coasting in ways that hurt the team.
For all his highs and lows, Taurean Prince can still be an asset in the right role. But his recent slump is a reminder that he’s not the kind of player you can rely on for consistency, especially in high-stakes moments. The Milwaukee Bucks are learning this firsthand—just as the Lakers did before them.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.