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Tayshaun turns back the clock

ukwazoo

All-American
Sep 9, 2001
11,147
3,623
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19 points on 7-10 shooting. I remember people said he was too skinny to have a long career, but here he is in year #13 as a pro.
Posted from Rivals Mobile
 
I still remember that block on Reggie Miller. Doc Rivers was beside himself. And I remember thinking, "I've seen Tayshaun do that many times."
Posted from Rivals Mobile
 
Meanwhile, James Young is racking up DNP's. I hate it when our guys get drafted by these horrible franchises with no chance to win and no interest in developing their young talent. Tayshaun should be traded to a contender, Smart, Young, and Olynyk should be getting big minutes.
 
Still waiting on Boston to buyout Tayshaun and get Atlanta to sign him for playoff depth. Atlanta's not giving us assets and paying that salary for him.

James Young should be playing, period. That team isn't going anywhere as currently constructed.
 
To illustrate just how rare a career like Tayshaun's really is, for his draft class (2002), he is:

#1 in games played, minutes played, and assists,

4th in points scored

8th in rebounds.

It's not a HOF career by any stretch, and he never made an all-star team, but there are only 4-5 guys per year on average who have the kind of long-term success he's had in the NBA.
 
That's what I thought. Ha.

I remember though a family member knew one of the team's players, and said player had said Tay was the best player at UK the moment he walked on campus. A great career at UK, and a degree to boot. He and Bogan's were quite the combo. Just wish they'd won a title along with another fav, Chuck Hayes.

Tay will live forever in UK lore for that 2-3 minute spree he had against UNC in Rupp. What a moment that was! I still watch that vid occasionally when I need some inspiration.
 
Originally posted by ukwazoo:
19 points on 7-10 shooting. I remember people said he was too skinny to have a long career, but here he is in year #13 as a pro.
Posted from Rivals Mobile
I actually think thinner players, so long as they're not fragile (and Tayshaun has shown he's not), have a better chance to have a long career in the NBA. It seems the heavier players are the ones who end up with chronic knee injuries, ankle injuries, back injuries, and etc.
 
Originally posted by ukwazoo:
19 points on 7-10 shooting. I remember people said he was too skinny to have a long career, but here he is in year #13 as a pro.

Posted from Rivals Mobile
I was among those saying "he is too skinny to have a long career" and I'm a HUGE UK fan. Boy was I ever wrong. This is the kind of wrong that I love being though! Way to go Tashaun!
smile.r191677.gif
 
I remember on draft night when he was finally selected 21 or 22 (?), he made some pretty strong statements about how other teams who passed him up were going to regret it, etc. I say pretty strong statements being Tayshaun was normally on the quiet side. But you could feel and see the emotion on his face, he felt dissed.

Not only has Tayshaun had a remarkable career (I was one of the skeptics), but he was very involved in charities when he was in Detroit, and I would assume that he has continued those efforts since he's played else where. In short, Tayshaun is just a class act.

Tayshaun's biggest UK highlight was the 5 three pointers against UNC, I was lucky enough to be at that game. Another great effort of his was in his junior year when a highly ranked Notre Dame team played at Rupp. I was there for this one as well and I'm pretty certain it was an ESPN Tuesday night 9 o'clocker. ND had a stud PF/C named Troy Murphy who ended up playing quite a few productive years in the NBA (I think he's been gone for awhile). Anyway, Tayshaun rose to the challenge and played great D on Murphy. Murphy probably had 30 lbs on Tayshaun, but Tay bodied him aggressively in the paint and made Murphy work for everything. Murphy ended up scoring about 14 or 15 points, but had to take a lot of shots to do it. Tayshaun had a lot of great moments in blue, but that will always stick out in my mind.
 
The thing about saying these people are too skinny and then looking back...

Most of them DO put on muscle when they get with a pro team.

I remember a lot of people saying Davis was going to have to bulk up if he was going to really thrive in the NBA. Then he bulked up. Then he thrived.

I would imagine Prince put on some weight between being drafted and scoring 19 last night.
 
mj2k10 - -Agree, not a HOF career put a very solid career and don't forget he played on one of the Dream Teams. I think it was the 04 Olympic team.
 
I'm proud of Tayshaun. He's had as solid and productive a career as anyone could've hoped for him when he was drafted in 2002. Aside from Amare Stoudamire and Yao Ming, he's had as good a creer as anyone drafted ahead of him, and in alot of cases, a BETTER career.
 
Originally posted by zwynn10:

don't forget he played on one of the Dream Teams. I think it was the 04 Olympic team.
It was actually the 08 team that won the gold in Beijing. He didn't get much playing time, as Coach K basically had him as the 12th man, but still quite an honor to be selected.
 
My favorite player ever. He still has the best block in NBA playoff history imo with the rundown of Reggie Miller.
 
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