Terry Taylor, undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, carved his path to professionalism through Exhibit 10 & then as a two-way player.
Currently, Taylor plays for Chicago Bulls on a two-way contract, signed in 2023.
While Terry’s on-court performance is on fire, his journey to the NBA is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
It all began when Terry’s beloved uncle introduced him to the game at a young age. However, his world fell apart when he lost his uncle. Many would have crumbled under such circumstances, but not Terry.
Instead of giving up on his dreams, he found solace and purpose in the game his uncle introduced him to. He never lost sight of his goals despite numerous obstacles and uncertainties.
Having played for Indiana Pacers and its G League affiliate Fort Wayne, Taylor, who is now with the Bulls & dedicates his NBA games to his late uncle.
Want to know more about his journey to success? What were the challenges he had to overcome? Well, you’ll have to read till the end to find out.
Also, get details on his family, relationship & net worth.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Terry Taylor |
| Nick Name | Terry |
| Date of Birth | September 23, 1999 |
| Age | 24 Years Old |
| Birth Place | Bowling Green, Kentucky |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | American- African |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Height | 6 feet 4 inches/1.93 m/193 cm |
| Weight | 230 lb/104 kg |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Father’s Name | Terry Hancock |
| Mother’s Name | Tocarro Taylor |
| Grandfather’s Name | Melvin Buford |
| Grandmother’s Name | Evelyn Buford |
| Uncle’s Name | Chris Taylor (died in 2007) |
| Siblings | Christopher Taylor (brother) |
| Education |
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| Relationship Status | Single |
| Girlfriend | Bailey Shorter (ex) |
| Profession | Basketball player |
| Position | Small forward / Power forward |
| Leagues | NBA, NBA G League |
| NBA Draft | Undrafted (2021) |
| Playing Teams |
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| Jersey Number |
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| Awards and achievements |
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| Net Worth | Around $1 Million |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
| Merch | Not Available |
| Last Update | April 2024 |
Born To A Teen Mother, More On Family!
Terry Taylor was born on September 23, 1999, in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
At the time of his birth, his mother, Tocarro Taylor, was only 15 & attendant of Hillsboro High School, while his father Terry Hancock, remained largely absent throughout his upbringing.
So, he was raised by his grandparents Melvin and Evelyn Buford, who work at funeral homes.
The future NBA player didn’t have a good relationship with his mother then.
She was struggling with addiction but later settled after welcoming Christopher Taylor (Terry’s younger brother). Now, Tocarro works as a cook in Bowling Green.
Also, Taylor’s relationship with his father did not mesh well.
In an interview with the Athletic, Terry Taylor mentioned that he had seen his father ‘maybe 10 times throughout his life.’
Though their relationship is now somewhat good; Hancock, who lives in Nashville, used to attend his son’s games at college.
Death Of Uncle
Terry had a strong bond growing up with his uncle Chris Taylor, who introduced him to basketball.
Unfortunately, when Terry was just 9 years old, his beloved uncle died on December 21, 2007, profoundly impacting him and his family.
As reported, his uncle was shot dead at 21 by an estranged husband of a woman he was dating. He was later sentenced to 20 years in prison.
At that time, Terry’s mother, Tocorro, was pregnant & nearly lost the child due to shock.
Fortunately, she welcomed a healthy baby boy (Taylor’s younger brother), who is named after his late uncle, Christopher.
Age, Height & More
As of 2024, Terry Taylor is 24 years old. Born a Libra, Taylor is no different from the zodiac sign’s traits- emotionally balanced, charming, friendly, and with a strong commitment.
The former Indiana Pacers shooting guard has a height of 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and weighs 230 lbs (104 kg).
He has a wingspan of 6 feet 11 inches (2.10 m).
High School & College Basketball
Despite growing up in difficult circumstances, Terry found a sense of purpose and hope through basketball and dedicated himself to becoming a player in honor of his uncle.
His talent on the court quickly became apparent at Bowling Green High School, where he made a name for himself as a standout player.
He led his school to their first-ever state title as a senior & was named MVP of the Kentucky Sweet 16.
Then, he committed to play college basketball at Austin Peay State University, over offers from Texas Southern and Southeast Missouri State.
A four-year varsity basketball player at Austin, Terry Taylor was the two-time OVC Player of the Year (2020 & 2021).
His college career-best performance was in his junior season, as he averaged 21.8 points per game, 11.0 rebounds & 1.4 assists per game.
Professional Career
Despite being one of the eyed prospects, Terry Taylor went undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft.
He joined the list of notable undrafted players: Justin Champagnie, Jordan Goodwin & Austin Reaves, to name a few.
Taylor signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Indiana Pacers but was waived before the regular season started. So, he signed with the team’s G League affiliate Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
On December 15, 2021, Terry inked a two-way contract with the Pacers to divide his playtime in the NBA & the G League.
As a result, on January 5, 2022, he made his NBA debut off the bench against the Brooklyn Nets.
Moreover, as a rookie, he recorded his first double-double with 24 points (career-high) and 16 rebounds in 37 minutes of gameplay against the Orlando Magic on February 2, 2022.
Through 33 games, his NBA rookie season averaged 9.6 points, 5.2 rebounds & 1.2 assists per game.
On the other, Taylor’s NBA G League saw him 21.3 points per game, including his G League season-high 39 points against the Maine Celtics, on January 25, 2022.
In the midst of the 2022-23 season, he was waived by the Pacers, which would see him a two-way contract from the Chicago Bulls.
After that, Terry played for the Chicago Bulls & its G League affiliate team Windy City Bulls.
Dating & Relationship Details!
With the waves in the NBA, many are eager to know the relationship status of Terry Taylor. But it seems the shooting guard is not in a publicly disclosed relationship.
Regarding his dating profile, at the moment, Taylor is low-key; seemingly more after his break-up with his then-girlfriend Bailey Shorter.
During his college days at Austin Peay, the basketball player was in a relationship with Bailey, a centerfielder for Austin Peay softball.
The couple apparently met at college & used to share pictures of each on their social media. However, they have parted ways now.
While Terry is alleged to be single, his ex-girlfriend seems to have moved on.
Bailey Shorter is currently in a relationship with Johnathon Edwards & is expecting a baby girl with him. According to their Facebook profile, the two are together since May 23, 2022.
On the other, Terry Taylor seems to be focused on his NBA career & often shares reels & posts about basketball on his Instagram (@tt.21) & Twitter (@TerryTaylor21).
More On Ex-Girlfriend
Bailey Shorter, the ex-girlfriend of NBA player Terry Taylor, is a graduate of Austin Peay State University.
She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Science and later completed her Master’s in Marketing from Austin. Currently, she lives in Crystal Springs, Mississippi.
Bailey, whose birthday is on November 6, is the youngest of two children to John and Cami Shorter. She has an older brother named Blake.
Net Worth Of Terry Taylor | NBA Contracts & Salary
As a budding NBA player, Taylor’s contracts have seen him a lucrative amount of money.
Even if his exact net worth is under review, it is estimated that Terry Taylor has an estimated net worth of $1 million as of 2024.
According to Spotrac, the shooting guard was on a two-way contract with the Indiana Pacers before they converted it to a standard deal.
The Pacers signed him on a 3-year Rest-of-Season contract worth $3.99 million on April 7, 2022. It earned him a salary of $600K for the 2021-22 season.
Moreover, on July 10, 2022, they guaranteed him a salary of $1.56 million for the 2022-23 season.
But in the midst of the 2022-23 season, the Pacers waived him on February 9, 2023.
And 12 days later, on February 21, he signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls, later joined by Justin Lewis in the team.
Interesting Facts
- He was named the MVP of the Kentucky Sweet 16 tournament in his senior year of high school.
- Taylor has a wingspan of 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm), which is one of the reasons for his success as a rebounder.
- He wore jersey number 21 while at Austin Peay & the NBA team Indiana Pacers in honor of his late uncle Chris Taylor, who died at 21.
- He regards his brother as his best friend.
- Terry loves the Chili made by his grandmother and looks forward to eating that every holiday season.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Was Terry Taylor drafted?
No, Terry went undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft. However, he was signed for Fort Wayne Mad Ants, an affiliate of the Indiana Pacers in the NBA G League.
Does Terry Taylor have a girlfriend?
For now, it seems the NBA player is single. Taylor was in a relationship with his college sweetheart Bailey Shorter.
What is the jersey number of Terry Taylor?
Terry Taylor wears #32 with the Bulls. Earlier, he wore #21 with the Indiana Pacers & his college team at Austin Peay to honor his late uncle, who died at 21.
