Andrew Pace
Prince was an avid basketball fan with a particular interest in Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, and Dwyane Wade. He was also a player himself, with his former basketball coach Richard Robinson describing him as an excellent ball handler and another source claiming he could dribble, he could shoot, and he was quick. However, his slight build and short stature of 5'2 may have hindered his basketball career. Despite this, Prince was clearly a talented player, with one source claiming he could dunk. This has sparked much discussion, with many wondering if Prince really was that good at basketball.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Height | 5'2" |
| Build | Slight |
| Ball handling skills | Excellent |
| Dribbling skills | Good |
| Shooting skills | Good |
| Passing skills | Reckless |
| Jumping ability | Good |
| Quickness | Quick |
| Competitive nature | Yes |
| Confidence | High |
| Favorite players | Kevin Garnett, Dwyane Wade, Vince Carter |
| Favorite jersey number | #15 |
| Preferred footwear | 6-inch heels |
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What You'll Learn
Prince's skill and style on the court
Prince's skill and style on the basketball court were legendary. Despite his slight build and modest height of 5'2", he was a force to be reckoned with on the court. He was described as a "heck of a basketball player" by his classmates, and his coach at Bryant Junior High, Richard Robinson, recalled that he was an "excellent ball handler" with great shooting skills.
Prince's quickness, agility, and creativity on the court are also well-documented. He was known to play with true flair, and his style could be compared to that of NBA stars like Steph Curry and Michael Jordan. He was also a fan of the game himself, citing Vince Carter, Dwyane Wade, and Kevin Garnett as some of his favourite players.
Prince regularly played in pick-up games around Minneapolis and even constructed basketball courts at his 65,000-square-foot warehouse, Paisley Park. In one famous story recounted by Charlie Murphy, Prince and his group played a pickup game against Murphy and his team in the 1980s, which ended with Prince dunking and serving blueberry pancakes to the losing team. This story was later confirmed by Samuel L. Jackson and Micki Free, who played in that game and compared Prince's skills to those of Steph Curry.
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His height and physique
Prince was 5'2" tall, with a slight build. While some sources describe him as short, others note that he was quick and agile, with excellent ball-handling skills. His height may have been an impediment to a professional basketball career, but it didn't stop him from being a formidable opponent on the court.
In a 2004 sketch on Chappelle's Show, Charlie Murphy recounted a game he played against Prince in the 1980s, in which Prince dominated and showcase his skills. This story was later confirmed by Samuel L. Jackson, who said Prince told him it was true. Murphy described Prince's playing style as "incredible", saying he "could ball man... He was crossing cats like Iverson. He was getting rebounds like Charles Barkley."
Prince's high school basketball coach, Richard Robinson, described him as "an excellent ball handler" and "a darn good basketball player". However, Robinson also noted that Prince's small stature limited his playing time, as he "always threw the ball away".
Despite his height, Prince was a confident and competitive player. He regularly played in pickup games and even constructed basketball courts at his Paisley Park estate. He was known to play in unique attire, including 6-inch heels and a blouse, as depicted in the Chappelle's Show sketch.
Prince's skill and love for the game are evident, and his height and physique, while not ideal for the sport, did not hold him back from excelling and surprising many with his abilities.
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His favourite basketball players
While Prince was an avid basketball player himself, he also had several favourite players. One of them was Kevin Garnett, whom Prince admired so much that he kept one of Garnett's shoes as a prized possession. Another player Prince favoured was Dwyane Wade, who played for the Miami Heat. In a rare radio interview in 2012, when asked who he was rooting for, Prince replied, "Well, Dwyane Wade is my favourite player, but the Thunder are my favourite team." Vince Carter was also among Prince's favourite players. Prince was initially drawn to Carter's high-flying dunks as a shooting guard, and later came to appreciate his overall game. He even invited Carter to Paisley Park and allegedly wrote an unpublished song titled "Betrayer" about him.
Prince was also a fan of women's basketball. A television in his hangout space at Paisley Park aired a loop of the 2015 WNBA Finals decider, in which the Lynx beat the Fever.
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Confirmation of his abilities
Confirmation of Prince's basketball abilities comes from several sources, including the artist himself, his former coaches, and those who played with or against him.
Prince's former basketball coach at Bryant Junior High, Richard Robinson, recalled that he was "an excellent ball handler" and a good shooter who could have been a starter on another squad. Robinson later told TMZ that Prince "was quite a good basketball player, but I gave him less playing time because he always threw the ball away. The more turnovers he got, the less time he played." Al Nuness, Prince's coach at Central High, concurred that Prince was a "darn good basketball player," but his modest height of 5'2" was an impediment to his success.
Prince's classmates and teammates also attested to his skills on the court. James Samuel Harris, a classmate who became a legendary music producer, recalled that Prince was "short, but he had confidence because he was a heck of a basketball player—a point guard who could distribute, had great handles and could shoot the lights out." Duane Nelson, another teammate, described Prince as a "hell of a practice player" who played with "true flair."
In addition to those who played with him in his youth, several celebrities and writers have also confirmed Prince's basketball abilities. Writer Touré, author of the book "I Would Die 4 U: Why Prince Became an Icon," recounted playing against Prince and described him as "one of those darting little guys you have to keep your eye on every second." Touré highlighted Prince's quickness, competitiveness, and ability to dribble and rebound. Celebrities who played with or against Prince include comedian Charlie Murphy, actor Samuel L. Jackson, and musician Micki Free, who all confirmed the artist's basketball prowess.
Prince himself also acknowledged his basketball skills. In a radio interview, he confirmed the story told by Charlie Murphy in a sketch on "Chappelle's Show," saying, "Oh definitely" when asked if he had "game." While he downplayed his abilities, saying, "To be honest, it ain’t that I’m that great. [Murphy's] just so bad," he also constructed two basketball areas, one indoor and one outdoor, at his Paisley Park estate, demonstrating his continued interest in the sport.
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His basketball legacy
Prince's love for basketball is well-known. He regularly played in pick-up games around Minneapolis and even brought a basketball with him on tour. He was a huge fan of the sport and even had a basketball court built at his Paisley Park estate.
Prince's former basketball coach, Richard Robinson, described him as an "excellent player" and an "excellent ball handler, good shoot [sic]". Robinson also said that Prince could have been a starter on another squad. Another source claims that Prince was a "heck of a basketball player—a point guard who could distribute, had great handles and could shoot".
In a now-legendary skit on Chappelle's Show, Charlie Murphy recounted a game he played with Prince and his group in the 1980s, in which Prince completely dominated. Murphy described Prince as "incredible", saying, "He was crossing cats like Iverson. He was getting rebounds like Charles Barkley. Prince was incredible". Murphy's story was later confirmed by Samuel L. Jackson, who said Prince told him the game really happened, with Prince playing in "church shoes".
Prince's friend and Shalamar member, Micki Free, also gave details about the game, saying, "Prince played in 6-inch heels! They checked the ball to me, I gave it to Prince and he went to work".
Writer Touré, who played basketball with Prince at his Paisley Park estate in 1998, described him as "quick", "clever", and "creative on the ball". Touré also said that Prince moved like a player and played like one of those darting little guys you have to keep your eye on every second.
Despite his talent, Prince's basketball career was limited by his physique. At 5'2", he was too short for the game, as his high school coach, Al Nuness, pointed out: "Prince was a darn good basketball player. The problem is: He just didn't grow".
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, by all accounts, Prince was a very good basketball player. He was described as a "heck of a basketball player" by a classmate, and his coach said he was "an excellent ball handler". Even after finding fame, he continued to play in pick-up games and built two basketball courts at his Paisley Park estate.
Prince was 5'2" tall. His short stature may have hindered his basketball career, but it didn't stop him from dominating on the court.
Prince played as a point guard. His quickness, cleverness, and ball-handling skills made him a force to be reckoned with on the court.
Yes, Prince played a pickup game with writer and journalist Touré, who described Prince's style as "darting" and "quick". Additionally, Prince played a game with Charlie Murphy, Eddie Murphy's brother, which was immortalised in a Chappelle's Show sketch.
Yes, Prince had several favourite players, including Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, and Dwyane Wade. He also rented a house from former Los Angeles Laker, Carlos Boozer, and threw a private party for the Minnesota Lynx after they won the WNBA title in 2015.
