Palace Memories: Tayshaun Prince of the Palace
When thinking about the Palace of Auburn Hills, the 2004 Detroit Pistons championship team may come to mind. But, there is one player that some seem to overlook.
Tayshaun Prince, the 6’9″ forward out of the University of Kentucky, was a diamond in the rough for the Detroit Pistons. While not blowing away the stat sheet, averaging a career 11.1 points and 45.5 shooting percentage, he made his mark in a multitude of areas.
Detroit selected him with the 23rd pick in the 2002 NBA draft, hoping to nab a proficient forward to add to the roster. Prince provided that plus more.
Prince ended up playing 12 seasons in a Piston uniform, including stints with the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Boston Celtics. All in all, Tayshaun Prince spent 17 seasons in the NBA.
In his rookie campaign, Prince only appeared in 42 of the 82 games, starting in just five. With only an average of 10.4 minutes a night, Prince managed to average 3.9 points and 1.1 rebounds. He did show signs of potential, connecting on a high 42.6 percent from the three point line.
When fans think about the 2004 championship team, few tend to remember the impact Prince had.
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While not showing up in the box score, Prince’s tenacity and athleticism positioned Detroit for success. In the 2003-2004 championship season, Prince carried a heavy load for Detroit. He appeared in all 82 of the regular season games, averaging 32.9 minutes per outing. Keep in mind that this was only his second season in the league.
During this illustrious campaign that ended with a championship, Tayshaun Prince made a name for himself. He also added a memory that Pistons fans will never forget: the block.
Detroit, facing the first-seed Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, were up against the wall. With an 0-1 deficit on the road, the Pistons found themselves in a tight match in game two. Up by two with less than a minute to go, Tayshaun Prince made playoff history.
With a five step lead on Prince, Reggie Miller coasts to the hoop on a fast break for an easy game-tying bucket. But, Tayshaun Prince had other ideas. Coming out of nowhere, Prince swats the shot right into Richard Hamilton‘s hands, while Prince lands a few rows into the shocked crowd.
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This block led them to a game two victory, knotting up the series 1-1. Detroit ended up finishing the series 4-2 against the Pacers, ultimately taking the grand prize against the Los Angeles Lakers at home on the floor of the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Tayshaun Prince will never forget the playoff run and championship season and neither will the fans. The 2004 championship team was special and Prince was a huge factor.
Even though they came up short of a repeat in the 2004-2005 season, falling to the star-studded San Antonio Spurs, Prince still portrayed his dominance. Again, he played in all 82 regular season games, this time averaging a career high 37.1 minutes per game.
He continued to be an integral piece to the Detroit team, even with the downfall of the organization. Prince was the last player to leave from the 2004 championship team, showing the true loyalty of a Prince.
Next: A farewell to the Palace of Auburn Hills
Tayshaun proved himself to be the “Prince” of the Palace, while some fans tend to forget the greatness he showed. The greatness cannot be seen on the stat sheet, rather from within the heart and passion Prince showed day in and day out. He will forever be remembered as the Prince of the Palace.