The Milwaukee Bucks announced on November 10 that forward Taurean Prince has a herniated disk in his neck and is out indefinitely as the teamâs medical staff determines a treatment plan and timeline for return. Prince missed the past two games with what the team initially listed as a neck strain after appearing in the first eight contests.
Prince, 31, re-signed in Milwaukee this summer after starting 73 games last season and opened 2025-26 in a key bench role under head coach Doc Rivers. Over the first eight games, he averaged 6.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in 21.1 minutes while shooting 42.9% from 3-point range. The Bucks did not provide a timetable, and players with neck injuries often proceed cautiously, making âindefinitelyâ the operative term for now.Â
What the MRI Means for Milwaukeeâs Rotation
Princeâs absence leaves Rivers short a big wing in a roster that already leans small on the perimeter. In the past two games, Amir Coffey has stepped into the role, but Milwaukee is now missing two of the top eight players from the opening-night rotation. Starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr. sprained his left ankle in the first quarter of the season opener and later suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during the recovery process, further thinning the guard line.
Rivers has toggled between size and spacing with a non-traditional starting look: two shooting guards â AJ Green and Gary Trent Jr. â alongside point guard Ryan Rollins, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner in the frontcourt. Princeâs ability to defend up a position and hit open threes simplified those combinations, especially when Rivers wanted to keep Kyle Kuzma at power forward. Without Prince, Milwaukee may need more small-ball minutes from Kuzma at the three or heavier shifts from Coffey, with matchups dictating how often Rivers can keep two smaller guards on the floor.
The immediate question is how Milwaukee replaces roughly 20 rotation minutes on the wing while also redistributing the 30 minutes Porter typically commands in the backcourt. Coffey has the size to chase bigger wings and the feel to play off Antetokounmpoâs gravity, but his usage will climb. Greenâs shooting can keep second units afloat, while Trentâs on-ball reps may increase to stabilize guard play when Rollins sits. If Kuzma spends more time at small forward, Rivers can lean on Myles Turnerâs rim protection to preserve the defense behind smaller lineups.
Giannisâ Load & The Early Record
Despite the early injuries, Milwaukee opened 6-4 behind Giannis Antetokounmpoâs heavy lifting. Princeâs floor-spacing has value in those Giannis-led minutes; losing a 42.9% catch-and-shoot threat compresses driving lanes unless others keep defenses honest. The Bucks may counter by running more two-man actions with Giannis and Turner to force rim rotations, or by featuring staggered groups that prioritize three shooting threats around Antetokounmpo.
From a schedule standpoint, injuries this early donât decide a season, but they do test continuity and scheme. Expect Rivers to experiment: more sets to get Trent or Green downhill, inverted pick-and-rolls to leverage Coffeyâs size against guards, and occasional jumbo looks when matchups allow. If the shooting holds, the Bucks can survive the short term while awaiting clarity on Princeâs neck and Porterâs knee.
Bottom line: The Bucks lose a trusted 3-and-D wing with no firm timeline. In the meantime, Milwaukeeâs depth â and Riversâ creativity â will determine whether the early 6-4 start becomes a springboard or a warning sign as the season tightens.
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