Timberwolves’ small forward Tayshaun Prince will be out for Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Raptors, but not because of any nagging injuries. The 35 year old veteran got excused by the coaching staff so he could attend the jersey retirement ceremony of former teammate Chauncey Billups.
Tayshaun Prince is not playing tonight for Wolves v. Raptors. He'll be attending a ceremony honoring Chauncey Billups in DET
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) February 10, 2016
Billups spent two seasons with Minnesota, from 2000 to 2002, before leaving in free agency and signing with the Detroit Pistons, the same year that team drafted Prince. Billups and Prince would go on to win an NBA championship together in Detroit in 2004.
Wednesday the Player’s Tribune released a story credited to Chauncey Billups looking back on his career, and Billups had nothing but kind words about his time in Minnesota.
In the piece, entitled “Letter to my Younger Self,” Billups calls teammate Kevin Garnett “a friend for life,” and had these words to himself about the late Flip Saunders:
“You’ll have Flip Saunders — and, listen: That’s probably a whole other letter. But all I’ll say, for now, is this: Chauncey, respect that man. And cherish him. As coaches go … he’ll be one of the good ones. And as people go … he’ll be one of the great ones.”
Wishing nothing but the best to Chauncey Billups. READ: https://t.co/4qyV2MqIb5 (via @PlayersTribune). pic.twitter.com/k7dCLO64Xk
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) February 11, 2016
Billups’ jersey will be retired during a halftime ceremony at 7:30 p.m. when the Pistons host the Denver Nuggets.
