Mike Taylor: The Milwaukee Hero that Made NBA History
Mike Taylor was the first player to be drafted out of the D-League into the NBA. After his time in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers, Taylor went on to win eight championships overseas and became a captain for the Ghost Ballers in the BIG3. From Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he does a lot of community work and strives to be a role model to people that came from a similar background. Taylor sat down with Stacey Collier II of CrownHoops for an exclusive tell-all interview.
Mike Taylor: The Milwaukee Hero that Made NBA History
Taylor’s mission is to be known for more than an athlete. He wants to use his platform to give back to others and motivate his people to be the best version of themselves. In this interview, Taylor details the incredible journey of his playing career, being a trail-blazer, his community work, and maps out his future. He revealed his deepest thoughts and his quest to become a leader and a champion for not only his hometown but for anyone with a similar background as his.
Interview Timestamps
1:41 – Taylor talks about the mental aspect of his playing career.
5:24 – Taylor details his year with the Los Angeles Clippers. He reveals certain issues he had during that season with politics and Eric Gordon.
11:33 – Taylor talks about his community work in his hometown of Milwaukee, WI.
22:18 – Taylor lays out his plans for the future.
30:03 – Taylor lists his top five current NBA players to watch.
Early Career
Taylor started his collegiate career at Chipola College, a junior college, where he played for two years. In those two years, Taylor was ranked as the 38th best JUCO player in the nation. He also ranked 6th in the final NJCAA poll out of all JUCO players.
In 2006, Taylor transferred to Iowa State to play Division 1 basketball. During his only season with the Cyclones, he led the team in scoring with an average of 16 points per game. He also led the team in steals, assists, and three-pointers.
He was honored by being named All BIG-12 Honorable Mention (AP and Coaches), BIG-12 All-Newcomer Team, Ralph Olsen Team MVP, and the Cyclone Challenge MVP. Following some off-the-court issues, Taylor was dismissed from the team in 2007.
Taylor continued his quest to NBA stardom by playing for the Idaho Stampede, an NBA D-League team (G-League). At the time, he was the first to do what he had done, as the D-League was mainly filled with experienced players. Taylor, a true trailblazer, had a stellar year with the Stampede, averaging 14.5 points per game, leading the team to a D-League Championship.
Without Taylor’s contributions, the G-League would not be what it is today, as he accomplished then-NBA commissioner David Stern’s dream of making the D-League a desirable place for young athletes to play.
Making History
In 2008, he made NBA history by becoming the first D-League player to be drafted into the NBA. Taylor was the 55th pick, selected by the Portland Trailblazers. Later, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The biggest highlight of Taylor’s stint was scoring 35 points versus the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden – tying Allen Iverson‘s record for most points scored by a rookie in Madison Square Garden. After the 2008-09 season, Taylor continued his career overseas.
From 2009-2019, he played in Serbia, Poland, Lebanon, Korea, and Eygpt among other places. Taylor won eight championships during that time. Also, he briefly played for the Iowa Energy and the Los Angeles D-Fenders – the D-League affiliate teams for the Timberwolves and the Lakers.
Mike Taylor also had appearances in the Drew League and The 5 Tournament.
Taylor continues to play professional basketball in the BIG3 league for the Ghost Ballers as a co-captain of the team.
More Than an Athlete
Outside of basketball, Taylor has remained an integral and essential part of the Milwaukee community. He has done numerous charity events, gave free haircuts to youth, and distributed COVID-19 PPE. He has also hosted virtual talks, given out essential needs assistance, giving away winter coats, and more.
Taylor looks to continue his community work by donating free hot Thanksgiving meals for his Milwaukee community through his TaylorMade Foundation.
Since Taylor is much more than an athlete, he is also beginning a professional career with his LLC, Taylored4All. His first big project will be a comic book series completely created by him – from start to finish!
With so much already accomplished in his life, Taylor has only just scratched the surface of his potential.
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Follow Mike Taylor on Instagram and Twitter: @88MikeTaylor
To learn more, visit his websites:
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