Maurice Taylor

For the U.S. presidential candidate, see Morry Taylor. For the Roman Catholic Bishop, see Maurice Taylor (bishop).

Maurice Taylor

Taylor in 2005 with the New York Knicks.
Forward-Center
Personal information
Date of birth	October 30, 1976 (1976-10-30) (age 35)
Place of birth	Detroit, Michigan
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
College	Michigan
NBA Draft	1997 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14th overall
Selected by the Los Angeles Clippers
Pro career	1997–present
Career history
1997–2000	Los Angeles Clippers
2000–2005	Houston Rockets
2005–2006	New York Knicks
2006–2007	Sacramento Kings
2009	Olimpia Milano (Italy)
2009–2010	Shanxi Zhongyu (China)
2010	Benetton Treviso (Italy)
2011	Enel Brindisi (Italy)
Career highlights and awards
1997-98 Schick All-Rookie Second Team
Stats at NBA.com

Maurice De Shawn Taylor (born October 30, 1976) is an American professional basketball power forward.

College career

Taylor attended the University of Michigan. The athletic forward, from Henry Ford High School in Detroit, burst onto the national scene during the 1994 Maui Invitational with fellow freshman Maceo Baston. He won Big Ten Freshman of the Year for the 1994-1995 season, averaging 12.4 points and 5.1 rebounds and playing in the NCAA Tournament. As a sophomore he averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds and was picked 2nd Team All-Big Ten. Off the court that year, Taylor was involved in a traffic accident while out with potential recruit Mateen Cleaves that left teammate Robert Traylor with a broken arm and that led to the University of Michigan basketball scandal. After considering entering the NBA draft, Taylor returned to help lead a talented (if underachieving) Michigan team to the 1997 NIT Championship while averaging 12.3 points and 6.2 rebounds.

Professional career

NBA

In 1997, he was drafted 14th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers. In 2000, Taylor told the Clippers he would not re-sign with them in free agency or accept any sign-and-trade situations. When he became a free agent, Taylor announced his intention of hoping to sign with the Orlando Magic to join newly acquired players Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady. No contract offer from Orlando ever came. He then signed with the Houston Rockets instead. He was then traded to the New York Knicks in 2005, before joining the Sacramento Kings in 2006.^[1] He was released on January 23, 2007.^[2]

Europe

In January, 2009, he joined the Italian Euroleague club Olimpia Milano.^[3][4] He had not played since January 2007.^[3] In February 2011 he signed with Enel Brindisi until the end of the season^[5], but reached a consensual termination of the contract with the club in April 2011.^[6]

Booster scandal

See also: University of Michigan basketball scandal

Years after the completion of his college career, Taylor, along with several other Michigan stars, was accused of taking money from booster Ed Martin which somewhat tarnished his college achievements. Due to concerns that Taylor's amateur status had been compromised, Michigan forfeited every game in which Taylor played, and scrubbed his records from its record books. The school was also forced to disassociate itself from Taylor until 2012.

However, he was in the stands in New York with another former Wolverine, Jalen Rose, to support the team during the 2006 NIT Final Four.

Personal

Through his mother, Taylor is of Italian descent.^[7]

Notes

1. ^ http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/15671236.htm
2. ^ Yahoo! Sports - Sports News, Scores, Rumors, Fantasy Games, and more
3. ^ ^{a b} Euroleague.net AJ Milano upgrades with Price, Taylor
4. ^ Maurice Taylor Signs Three-Year Deal With Milan
5. ^ Maurice Taylor firma per l'Enel Basket Brindisi (Italian)
6. ^ Comunicato su Taylor (Italian)
7. ^ L'Armani Jeans Milano ha tesserato Maurice Taylor (Italian)

External links

• NBA biography
• Michigan Wolverines biography
• Euroleague.net Player Profile
• Player Profile @ Basketpedya.com

Persondata
Name	Taylor, Maurice
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 30, 1976
Place of birth	Detroit, Michigan
Date of death
Place of death