Shabazz Nagee Muhammad (born November 13, 1992) is an American professionalbasketball player for theSagesse Club of theLebanese Basketball League. He played one season ofcollege basketball for theUCLA Bruins before being selected with the 14th overall pick in the2013 NBA draft.
Muhammad went toBishop Gorman High School, where he was namedMr. Basketball USA andNaismith Prep Player of the Year in his senior year. He was one of the top rated college basketball recruits in the class of 2012. In his only season with UCLA, he earnedAll-American honors and was named to theall-conference first team in thePac-12; he was also votedPac-12 co-Freshman of the Year.
Muhammad was born inLong Beach, California to Ron Holmes and Faye Muhammad.[1] Ron Holmes was a 6-foot-5-inch (1.96 m) standout, four-year startingpoint guard for theUSC Trojans men's basketball program in the 1980s. Muhammad's mother, Faye, was a point guard andtrack star atLong Beach State.[1][2]
Shabazz Muhammad is the second of three children. His older sisterAsia is a professional tennis player, and his younger brother Rashad played basketball in high school.[1][3][4] When Muhammad was six years old, he was diagnosed withTourette syndrome.[5]
Muhammad attended high school inLas Vegas Valley inNevada atBishop Gorman High School, a Catholic high school with a $12,000 annual tuition that possessed a competitive athletics program. He became one of the few freshman to make their varsity basketball team.[1] In his junior year, Muhammad led Bishop Gorman averaging 25.1 points and 7.7 rebounds for the season.[6] Muhammad was also named the 2011Gatorade Player of the Year for the state ofNevada.
Muhammad was the 2011–12 high school diary keeper forSLAM Magazine.[7]
Muhammad played in the2012 McDonald's All-American game, where he led the West team to a 106–102 victory over the East team, and was named the MVP of the game with 21 points and 6 rebounds. Muhammad also participated in and won the 2012 Powerade Jam Fest Dunk Contest.[8] He was rated as the No. 2 player in the class of 2012 in theESPNU 100,[9] the No. 2 player byScout.com,[10] and the No. 1 player byRivals.com.[11]CBS college basketball analystGreg Anthony called Muhammad a "once-in-a-generation talent."[12]
Boasting scholarship offers from scores of basketball programs, Muhammad's final list of schools wasDuke,Kentucky, andUCLA. On April 11, 2012, Muhammad announced he would attend UCLA.[13][14] Muhammad was declared ineligible to play hours prior to UCLA's2012–13 season opener againstIndiana State due to alleged violations involving the NCAA's amateurism rules surrounding unofficial university visits.[15] The NCAA ruled he had received benefits for travel expenses and lodging from family friend Benjamin Lincoln, who had befriended Muhammad's father when Muhammad was in seventh grade, during unofficial visits to Duke andNorth Carolina.[16] After missing three games and an appeal by UCLA, he was reinstated, and his family was required to repay approximately $1,600.[17] Days before his reinstatement, several media outlets reported the boyfriend of the NCAA's lead investigator boasted publicly that the NCAA would find him ineligible eight days after the investigation commenced.[18] The NCAA subsequently fired the investigator that was involved in the case.[19]
Muhammad scored 15 points off the bench in his debut in a 78–70 loss toGeorgetown in the semifinals of theLegends Classic.[20] He became a starter in the next game againstGeorgia, and he scored a game-high 21 points in a 60–56 win in the Classic's consolation game.[21] Muhammad would then get a college-high 27 points, including a game-winning three pointer, in a 97–95 overtime victory against No. 7Missouri.[22] He scored a game-high 23 points in an 84–73 road win over No. 6Arizona.[23]
Muhammad received national recognition, earning second-teamAll-American honors fromSporting News and aFreshman All-American selection by theUnited States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).[24] He was also named to theAll-Pac-12 first team, and was voted thePac-12 co-Freshman of the Year along withJahii Carson ofArizona State.[25] Muhammad finished the season averaging 17.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game. He shot 44.3% from the floor and made 71.1% of his free throws.[26] While his scoring ability was unquestionable, he was not the flashy offensive player that was expected upon his signing. Muhammad struggled in the postseason, shooting 39.7 percent (23-for-58) and averaging 15.3 points in four games. He was 0-for-10 onthree-point field goals.[27] During the season, he focused on shooting and rarely passed the ball.[27][28] He was also a weak defensive player, though he did show improvement.[27]
On April 16, 2013, Muhammaddeclared he would enter the2013 NBA draft.[29] While he began his college career projected as a top-three draft pick, his stock fell to being viewed as a back-endlottery pick.[27] Muhammad was drafted 14th overall by theUtah Jazz; afterwards, his draft rights were traded to theMinnesota Timberwolves along with the 21st pick,Gorgui Dieng, in exchange for the ninth pick,Trey Burke.[30][31] While attending the NBA's rookie transition program in August before the season, Muhammad was sent home due to a rules violation.[32]
On January 5, 2014, Muhammad wasassigned to theIowa Energy of theNBA Development League.[33] In four games with Iowa, he averaged 24.5 points, shot 57.1% from the field, and had 9.8 rebounds per game. He played in theD-League Showcase, and was named to the All-Showcase Team.[34] On January 13, he was recalled by the Timberwolves.[34] On February 8, with three teammates out injured, Muhammad scored 12 points in a 117–110 loss to thePortland Trail Blazers.[35] After playing sparingly for the Wolves most of the season, it was his first game playing over 10 minutes.[28][36] On February 25, Muhammad played a season-high 24 minutes and scored a season-high 20 points in a 110–101 win over thePhoenix Suns; he scored 10 points while playing the entire fourth quarter, and also had five of his six rebounds during that time.[28] On April 5, he sprained themedial collateral ligament (MCL) of his right knee against theMiami Heat, which forced him to miss the remainder of the season. He averaged 3.9 points per game for the season.[37]
During the offseason, Muhammad lost weight and tuned his offensive game, and he enjoyed an improved season in2014–15 before suffering injuries.[38] On December 30, 2014, Muhammad scored a then career-high 30 points in a 100–94 loss to Utah.[39] On January 9, 2015, he missed the fourth quarter against theMilwaukee Bucks after suffering a strainedexternal oblique.[40] The injury sidelined him for a month after he had been performing well, averaging 16.9 points and 4.9 rebounds over his previous 20 games.[41] Despite the injury, Muhammad was selected to participate in theRising Stars Challenge during the2015 NBA All-Star Weekend.[42] On February 21, 2015, he was ruled out for the rest of the season after requiring surgery for a torn ligament in his middle finger.[43]
Muhammad was able to stay healthy throughout 2015–16, playing in all 82 games. He saw his minutes dip slightly, as he managed 20.5 minutes per game compared to 22.8 mpg in 2014–15. As a result, Muhammad's scoring fell by three points per game and his three-point shooting fell almost all the way back to his rookie season level—he was taking threes at a higher rate in 2015–16 than in his first two seasons combined.[44] He finished with an average of 10.5 points per game and even set a career high during the season with 35 points on April 5 in a 124–117 overtime win over theGolden State Warriors.[45] While his offense remained steady, Muhammad's defense was considered statistically poor. Among 462 qualified players in 2015–16, Muhammad ranked 461st in ESPN's "Defensive Real Plus-Minus" statistic, ahead of onlyJ.J. Barea.[44]
Muhammad continued to struggle on the defensive end in 2016–17, which made it difficult for him to earn the confidence of coachTom Thibodeau over the first two months of the season.[46] He broke out on December 30, 2016, scoring 22 points in 18 minutes off the bench against theMilwaukee Bucks. He scored 10 first-quarter points against the Bucks and hit his first four three-pointers of the game to help lead the Timberwolves to a 116–99 win.[46]
On September 15, 2017, Muhammad re-signed with the Timberwolves.[47] On February 23, 2018, he played his final game of the season for Minnesota, logging four points in three minutes during a 120–102 loss to theHouston Rockets.[48] On March 1, he was waived by the Timberwolves.[49] Muhammad reportedly requested to leave the franchise a month earlier.[50][51]
On March 4, 2018, Muhammad signed with theMilwaukee Bucks.[52] On April 9, he scored a season-high 22 points in a 102–86 win over theOrlando Magic.[53] During the offseason, he re-signed with the Bucks on a training-camp deal.[54][55] He was waived in the preseason on October 11, 2018, after playing in two exhibition games.[54][56]
On October 12, 2018, Muhammad signed with theShanxi Brave Dragons of theChinese Basketball Association.[57] On October 27, 2018, Muhammad made his debut for Shanxi, contributed 26 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal in a 98–92 loss to theTianjin Golden Lions.[58] On January 5, 2019, Muhammad scored 60 points to go along with 15 rebounds in a 127–118 loss to the Guangsha Lions.[59]
On August 15, 2019, Muhammad signed with theShenzhen Aviators of theChinese Basketball Association (CBA).[60]
In November 2021, Muhammad signed with theMeralco Bolts of thePhilippine Basketball Association.[61] However, he canceled his trip to the Philippines because of a 'family emergency'.[62]
On December 19, 2021, Muhammad signed with theGrand Rapids Gold of theNBA G League.[63] However, he was waived on December 22.
In February 2022, Muhammad joined theSan Miguel Beermen of thePhilippine Basketball Association (PBA) for the2021 PBA Governors' Cup as a replacement forOrlando Johnson.[64][65] On March 5, 2022, Muhammad recorded 57 points and 19 rebounds as he helped the Beermen come back from 26 points down in a 115–110 win against theMeralco Bolts.[66][67]
On February 25, 2023, Muhammad signed withBeirut Club of theLebanese Basketball League (LBL).[68]
On April 5, 2023, Muhammad signed with theGuangdong Southern Tigers of theChinese Basketball Association (CBA).[69]
On January 15, 2024, Muhammad joined theStockton Kings of theNBA G League,[70] but was waived on February 3.[71] Two days later, he was reacquired by the Kings.[71]
On July 21, 2024, Muhammad signed withTrotamundos de Carabobo of theSuperliga Profesional de Baloncesto.[72]
On September 6, 2024, Muhammad returns to the Philippines as he signed with theMagnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots of thePhilippine Basketball Association (PBA) to replaceGlenn Robinson III as the team's import for the2024 PBA Governors' Cup.[73]
On December 22, 2024, Muhammad signed with theSagesse SC of theLebanese Basketball League.[74]
Muhammad's uncle,Stephone Paige, played nine seasons in theNational Football League (NFL) with 377 careerreceptions. His aunt,Robin Holmes-Sullivan, was a four-year starter forCal State Fullerton's basketball team.[2]
On March 22, 2013, it was revealed in a report from theLos Angeles Times that Muhammad was actually born exactly one year earlier than his thought-to-be birthday of November 13, 1993.[75] A copy of his birth certificate on file with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health shows that he was born atLong Beach Memorial Medical Center exactly one year earlier, which made him 20 years old at the time.Los Angeles Times assumes that this was to make Muhammad look better "competing against younger, smaller athletes, particularly in the fast-growing years of early adolescence", and compared the case to that of baseball'sDanny Almonte.[76] Although Muhammad's father said the younger age in UCLA's media guide was "a mistake", numerous sources online show that Muhammad had been passing himself off as younger for years.[76][77]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Minnesota | 37 | 0 | 7.8 | .460 | .273 | .650 | 1.4 | .2 | .2 | .0 | 3.9 |
| 2014–15 | Minnesota | 38 | 13 | 22.8 | .489 | .392 | .717 | 4.1 | 1.2 | .5 | .2 | 13.5 |
| 2015–16 | Minnesota | 82* | 0 | 20.5 | .465 | .289 | .764 | 3.3 | .6 | .3 | .1 | 10.5 |
| 2016–17 | Minnesota | 78 | 1 | 19.4 | .482 | .338 | .774 | 2.8 | .4 | .3 | .1 | 9.9 |
| 2017–18 | Minnesota | 32 | 2 | 9.4 | .388 | .211 | .710 | 1.4 | .2 | .2 | .1 | 3.8 |
| 2017–18 | Milwaukee | 11 | 0 | 10.6 | .552 | .375 | .895 | 2.8 | .6 | .4 | .1 | 8.5 |
| Career | 278 | 16 | 17.2 | .473 | .319 | .751 | 2.8 | .5 | .3 | .1 | 9.0 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Milwaukee | 4 | 0 | 7.3 | .450 | .800 | .600 | 1.0 | .0 | .5 | .3 | 6.3 |
| Career | 4 | 0 | 7.3 | .450 | .800 | .600 | 1.0 | .0 | .5 | .3 | 6.3 | |
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | MPG | Minutes per game | FG% | Field goal percentage |
| 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage | RPG | Rebounds per game |
| APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game |
| PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high | Led the league | |
| Year | Team | League | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Shanxi Loongs | CBA | 41 | 31.9 | .518 | .311 | .811 | 11.2 | 2.8 | .6 | .8 | 29.8 |
| 2019–20 | Shenzhen Aviators | CBA | 10 | 29.9 | .561 | .419 | .759 | 9.3 | 1.5 | .8 | .5 | 23.5 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | UCLA | 32 | 30 | 30.8 | .443 | .377 | .711 | 5.2 | .8 | .7 | .1 | 17.9 |
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