With 37 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists, Giannis Antetokounmpo was undoubtedly the hero of the Milwaukee Bucks' season opener. However, he wasn't the only Buck with a strong night, as there were countless throughout the roster. One, in particular, overlooked performer was Taurean Prince, who looked great in his new role.
Prince looks comfortable as a reserve, and the Bucks need him
Last offseason, Prince came to Milwaukee thinking he'd be a reserve, but injuries forced him to start in 73 games. Not only was Prince starting, but the Bucks had him primarily playing the two once they acquired Kyle Kuzma, which put him into an awkward position. Needing him to be a guard defender and reliable offensive contributor, Prince was out of place and failed to be his best self.
In 22 minutes, Prince poured in 11 points, two assists, a rebound, and one steal. On paper, that might not seem too impressive. However, coming off the bench, he looked far more comfortable than he did often last season. He wasn't forced to guard the opposing team's best shifty guard or bring the ball up the court. Instead, he got to play his game, and the results spoke for themselves.
On the night, Prince shot 4-of-5 overall, including 3-of-4 from deep. The forward was constantly open on the perimeter, and he made the defense pay. His final make of the night came after he contested a Washington shot and disrupted the possession as he showcased how defense turns to offense. His only 2-point make of the night? A running dunk in transition. Prince was all over the place offensively.
Elsewhere, Prince looked comfortable. Defensively, he never had to take on the top assignment, and it allowed him to play to his strengths. Wizards players shot just 2-of-7 (28.6 percent) with Prince as their primary defender, highlighting his impact. He's never been much of a passer, but Prince flexed his chops by finding a cutting Bobby Portis and then Myles Turner on the perimeter for scores.
This version of Taurean Prince can be a major contributor to the Milwaukee Bucks' success this year. He'll be a Swiss Army Knife off the bench, providing scoring, shooting, passing, and defense. This is a role he is far better suited for compared to being a starting shooting guard night in and night out. He could quietly be due for big things after last year's ugly playoff showing against the Pacers.
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