After 4 Years, Former Lottery Pick Wants Back Into NBA; Has Interest From Two Teams

He was called "a once-in-a-generation talent." But after being a lottery pick in 2013, he's been out of the NBA since 2018, and spent last season playing in the Philippines. Now, at 29 years old, Shabazz Muhammad is ready for a return to the league. 

The swingman has worked out for the Sacramento Kings, and also has interest from the Dallas Mavericks, according to Dana O'Neill of The Athletic.

In five years in the NBA, he averaged 9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 32% from three-point range. 

“From the time I was younger, I always believed I was one of the best players to play,’’ Muhammad says. “What I didn’t consider is that all the other guys thought the same thing.’’ 

In the four years since being waived by the Minnesota Timberwolves, he's played in China, in the G League, and in the Philippines. 

“It was a big adjustment,’’ Muhammad says about playing in China. “The language barrier — I needed a translator to talk to my teammates — the food. I got down on myself.’’

But he feels like he's now ready to return to the NBA. We'll soon find out if the Kings, or even the Mavericks, agree.

Photo Credit: Bryan Horowitz, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons