Shabazz Muhammad NBA Combine 2013: Measurements, Analysis and Draft Projection
Projected lottery pick Shabazz Muhammad had an interesting performance at the 2013 NBA Draft Scouting Combine on Thursday in Chicago, struggling at times but displaying maximum effort at others (via @DraftExpress):
While official measurements won’t be announced until after the combine is over, Muhammad reportedly weighed in at around 220 pounds according to Sporting News NBA writer Sean Deveney:
The former UCLA Bruins star also participated in a handful of drills on Thursday morning as the small forwards took to the floor.
SLAM Magazine writer Dave Spahn pointed out Muhammad’s poor performance during the shooting drills:
Muhammad averaged 17.9 points per game on 44 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent shooting from beyond the arc last season at UCLA. He hit 71 percent from the foul line.
The prospect didn’t let his off shooting day affect his defense, though (via @NBAGuru):
Here’s a closer look at Muhammad during defensive drills (via @nbastats):
ESPN analyst Jay Williams was “impressed” by Muhammad on Thursday:
Others, however, such as CBSSports.com senior basketball writer Jeff Goodman, felt that Muhammad failed to stand out from the rest of the small forward prospects during drills:
After Muhammad finished up his workouts, members of the media flocked to him for questions (via Jeremy Bauman):
According to Detroit Pistons beat writer David Mayo, Muhammad confirmed that he’s 20 years old and that he isn’t aware of how the confusion about his age began:
Overall, Muhammad’s performance at the combine on Thursday was lackluster. He has to prove he can pull up and score consistently off the dribble, which is something he didn’t do often at UCLA.
Muhammad’s struggles also beg the following question: What does he have to gain by participating in the combine?
With so many top talents sitting out this week, it’s surprising that a projected lottery pick like Muhammad would risk hurting his stock by showing up. Kudos for the effort, but it’s unclear if it will be worth it in the end.
Draft Projection
While Muhammad was seen as a lottery pick coming into the combine, his performance may have hurt his stock. Just ask Sports Illustrated‘s Chris Mannix:
In his latest mock draft, ESPN’s Chad Ford (membership required) has Muhammad going No. 7 overall to the Detroit Pistons, a team in need of a scoring punch.
There’s a good chance Muhammad will slide in mock drafts around the web following the combine, but he should still be a solid bet to go somewhere in the lottery. He’s still one of the top scorers coming out this summer and has a winning attitude that scouts and coaches will love.
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UConn guard Shabazz Napier to stay for senior year
UConn guard Shabazz Napier will stay at Connecticut for his senior season
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UCLA Star Shabazz Muhammad Will Declare for 2013 NBA Draft
UCLA star Shabazz Muhammad, one of the most intriguing players in college basketball, has officially declared his intentions to enter the 2013 NBA draft.
The Bruins made the news official with a statement on their official website, where Muhammad shared his thoughts on his decision to leave for the pros.
I am so thankful for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play at UCLA and will always be proud to be a Bruin. From a young age, I have dreamed of playing in the NBA, and I believe that this is the right time for me to move to the next level.
I have had an unbelievable experience at UCLA and am eternally grateful to my teammates, my coaches and the program’s support staff for helping me become a better person and basketball player during my time in Westwood. It has been an honor and a privilege to play for coach Ben Howland.
It’s no surprise that Muhammad is electing to turn pro after a lone freshman season at UCLA, as the young man seemed destined to make this leap before arriving on campus.
Muhammad has had a highly publicized run-in with the NCAA, the ruling organization that initially declared him ineligible for the 2012-13 campaign.
Fortunately for Muhammad and the Bruins, an edict came down that reversed the original decision after he sat out for three games.
However, his presence didn’t make the impact that many felt it would. The 6’6”, 225-pound swingman only led the team to a 25-10 record and a disappointing round-of-64 loss in the 2013 NCAA tournament.
With 17.9 points and 5.2 boards per game, though, Muhammad has proven that he is a capable scorer and decent rebounder for his size. That said, there are two red flags that must be pointed out when assessing this young man’s draft stock.
The first is his lack of production outside of scoring and on the boards, as he averaged just 0.8 assists and 0.7 steals per game. Those statistics aren’t a good sign for his potential to contribute in the NBA as much more than a scorer.
The other major issue is the recent scandal involving the young star’s true age. The Los Angeles Times found that the swingman is actually 20 years old, not 19 as had been previously reported.
To many scouts and analysts, including ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, this change completely alters his potential as a pro player and drastically reduces his ceiling.
It will be interesting to see where he lands on draft day, but Muhammad will undoubtedly find a home in the lottery as a dynamic scorer with a good motor and high basketball IQ.
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UCLA’s Shabazz Muhammad entering 2013 NBA draft
The Bruins freshman forward has officially declared for the upcoming NBA draft.
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Shabazz Muhammad Will Declare for 2013 NBA Draft
Shabazz Muhammad, one of the most intriguing players in college basketball, has officially declared his intentions to enter the 2013 NBA draft.
UCLA made the news official with a statement on the program’s website, where Muhammad shared his thoughts on his decision to leave for the pros.
I am so thankful for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play at UCLA and will always be proud to be a Bruin. From a young age, I have dreamed of playing in the NBA, and I believe that this is the right time for me to move to the next level.
I have had an unbelievable experience at UCLA and am eternally grateful to my teammates, my coaches and the program’s support staff for helping me become a better person and basketball player during my time in Westwood. It has been an honor and a privilege to play for coach Ben Howland.
It’s no surprise that Muhammad is electing to turn pro after a lone freshman season at UCLA, as the young man seemed destined to make this leap before arriving on campus.
Muhammad has had a highly publicized run-in with the NCAA, the ruling organization that initially declared him ineligible for the 2012-13 campaign.
Fortunately for Muhammad and the Bruins, an edict came down that reversed the original decision after the star swingman sat out for three games.
However, his presence didn’t make the impact that many felt it would. The 6’6” forward only led the team to a 25-10 record and a disappointing round-of-64 loss in the 2013 NCAA tournament.
With 17.9 points and 5.2 boards per game, though, Muhammad did prove he is a capable scorer and decent rebounder for being somewhat undersized at the starting forward position.
There are two red flags that must be pointed out when assessing this young man’s draft stock.
The first is his lack of production outside of scoring and on the boards, as he averaged just 0.8 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.6 turnovers per game. Those stats aren’t a good sign for his potential to contribute in the NBA as much more than a scorer.
The other huge issue is the recent scandal involving the young star’s true age. The Los Angeles Times found that the swingman is actually 20 years old, not 19 as had been previously reported.
To many scouts and analysts, including ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, this slight but extremely important change completely alters his potential as a pro player and drastically reduces his ceiling.
It’ll be interesting to see where he lands on draft day, but we’re sure Muhammad will find a home in the lottery as an intriguing left-handed scorer with a good motor and high basketball IQ.
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Shabazz Muhammad: Misrepresentation About Age Shouldn’t Lower Star’s Draft Stock
So, apparently, UCLA star Shabazz Muhammad is one year older than we previously thought.
Then again, the man can play basketball.
An investigative piece by the Los Angeles Times on Friday revealed that Muhammad’s father—Ron Holmes—lied about his son’s age. Muhammad is reportedly 20 years old and was born in Long Beach. He is not 19 years old and was not born in Los Angeles.
Who knows what Holmes was attempting to accomplish by lying about his son’s age. It’s possible that he figured it would give Muhammad a leg up on his competition. We’ve seen this a lot in baseball, when foreign players’ ages are misrepresented to give them more time to develop in hopes of making the big leagues.
Either way, Muhammad’s stock in the 2013 NBA draft should not be hurt by the recent news.
Muhammad averaged 17.9 points and 5.2 rebounds in 31 minutes per game this season. The swingman not only shot 44 percent from the floor, he showed range by knocking down 38 percent of his three-point attempts.
More than anything, Muhammad’s skill set translates nicely to the NBA. He’s an explosive player who can attack the rim and make interior defenders look foolish. He’s also a solid rebounder for his size.
Beyond that, Muhammad is a heady, driven player who has the ability to lead his team down the stretch. His intensity matches those moments when the game is on the line. He’s a vocal leader with a killer instinct who isn’t afraid to get in the face of a teammate if he isn’t living up to his expectations.
Now, when determining potential at the next level, age is certainly a factor in the equation. There’s no doubt about that. On the other hand, Muhammad already has exhibited the skill set to be an impact player in the pros.
Plus, it’s not like he’s an old prospect. Even at 20 years of age, Muhammad still has plenty of untapped potential. If he can develop his jump shot, he could become an imposing player in the NBA.
If Holmes did lie about Muhammad’s age to potentially give him an advantage over his competitors, the plan may have backfired. It could end up hurting Muhammad’s draft stock now.
But it shouldn’t. The youngster has shown enough to warrant a top-10 selection in the draft. It’s as simple as that.
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UCLA Basketball: Was Shabazz Muhammad Worth the Trouble?
If Friday night’s loss to Minnesota in the opening round of the NCAA tournament was indeed the final game of Shabazz Muhammad‘s tumultuous college career, then it started about ingloriously as it ended.
Rated as the top high-school player in America by Rivals.com, Muhammad arrived in Westwood amid much fanfare but missed the season’s first three games due to an ongoing NCAA investigation.
He played well upon returning, scoring 17.9 points per game (second only to Arizona State’s Jahii Carson among freshmen) and leading the Bruins to a Pac-12 regular-season title.
Still, it seemed UCLA never quite approached serious national-contention status, plagued as it was by an inconsistent defense and an offense that looked thoroughly average during Pac-12 play.
After earning a No. 6 seed in the NCAA tournament, UCLA was swept aside by Minnesota in the round of 64, 83-63. Muhammad’s final shot attempt was a meaningless, uncontested layup with seven seconds left. He missed it.
He also led the Bruins with 20 points, the 14th time he tallied 20 or more in his first 32 collegiate games.
So, which Muhammad did you see?
The athletic savant who bulled through Minnesota defenders for 39 minutes en route to 10 free-throw attempts? Or the solipsistic leach who shot 6-of-18 in a disheartening blowout loss?
We’ll address both portraits of Muhammad in the slides ahead, as we try to determine whether his year at Pauley was a boon to the UCLA program or a detriment.
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Shabazz Muhammad’s Age Isn’t the Real Concern
News recently broke, according to the Los Angeles Times, that UCLA freshman sensation Shabazz Muhammad is actually 20, not 19.
This creates controversy regarding his draft stock, because the extra year could potentially deter some suitors.
This isn’t the real concern with this developing story, however. This L.A. Times article by Ken Bensinger unpacks the trajectory of Muhammad’s basketball career—a career driven by his father.
Muhammad will soon become an NBA player (and very likely a quality one), which will result in his dad’s dream coming true. But the route in which this happened is unfortunate.
Muhammad’s father, Ron Holmes, has been on a quest for a long time. The goal? Successful athletes, glorified icons in culture.
In the 1980s, Holmes himself played basketball at USC, but he never made it to the pros. He didn’t want to witness this same conclusion in his children’s careers.
Therefore, he first found a wife who could help him breed jocks. Faye Paige was a point guard, sprinter and hurdler at Long Beach State, seemingly the perfect assemblage of genes to concoct the next superstar.
They’ve had three kids, and the following quote amplifies Holmes’ mission towards them: “If you’re a doctor, your kid is going to med school. If you’re a lawyer, he’s going to law school,” Holmes said. “I was an athlete. That’s what I could do for my kids.”
Holmes even selected their names based on, “what would sound good and be marketable worldwide.”
Furthermore, Muhammad spent countless hours in the gym growing up, prompted by his father’s yearnings. Holmes even advised his son that he was going to have to work that much harder due to a mild case of Tourette’s syndrome.
Holmes’ pursuit of his son’s success was deeply rooted. He wasn’t just another dad in the stands cheering when his son scored, perhaps even chiding the referees on occasion. He wasn’t just a another good-natured dad who took his son to the local park to hoist some jumpers or toss the baseball.
The truth is that Holmes was driven by his dream for his son, which was to make Shabazz the stud professional athlete that he never was. Holmes sought to live vicariously through his middle child, hoping to “show him the way” to superstardom.
Quite frankly, Holmes’ aspirations for his children are quite common in this day and age. Every parent longs to see their child succeed, which is perfectly commendable and should be praised. However, a line is crossed when a vision for a child’s success becomes more about the parent’s dream than the child’s heart. In this process, the kid merely becomes the object of a parent’s mapped out fantasy.
Is there any love underscoring such aspirations?
No, there is simply a self-serving chase fueled by an unhealthily driven forerunner. In the case of sports, the sport no longer becomes a vehicle for a father/son to bond. It becomes the vehicle to supposed glory that is laden with unceasing pressure and crippling expectations.
This is at the crux of Shabazz Muhammad’s story. He didn’t grow up with a passionate love for the game. He grew up with an ambitious father.
Perhaps one could argue that it worked out, since Shabazz will likely one day become an NBA All-Star. But there are numerous problems to such logic.
First of all, remember that there were two other children in the picture. One is a daughter named Asia, who took up tennis and even made it professionally but still labors in the sport’s lower rungs. The other is a son named Rashad, who is a high school senior who hopes to play college hoops.
Neither of these children have carried the athletic potential of their sensational brother, resulting in Holmes pinning his hopes on Shabazz as his road to “the dream.”
Instead of delighting in the uniqueness of each child, Holmes has tried to maximize their potential in one way: sports. One child is en route to attaining his father’s goal, while the others likely just feel like disappointments.
Secondly, there are surely thousands of examples like this that we never hear about, in which “success” is never realized. Fathers all too often burden their child with demands athletically. Few meet the expectations. Most are left feeling manipulated by a parent’s delusion or like a failure who was never good enough. Or both.
Lastly, should it even be considered a “success” when one does “make it” and gains athletic glory? It truthfully shouldn’t be, because the success stems more from a parent’s coercion than it does from a child’s ardor.
Consider Muhammad. There’s reason to question if he really loves basketball. Why? Because he has learned to play it to please his father, rather than enjoying it as a love. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him burn out and fall short of not just the expectations of his father, but also the expectations of NBA scouts.
Maybe this is already happening. The clip below shows him not celebrating with his teammates because he wasn’t given the ball. Perhaps his view of the game is entirely skewed because of how he has learned it.
The latest news concerning Muhammad is very telling, namely because of what it has revealed about his upbringing (not his age). What’s more, a lesson can be learned from much of this. Parenting is surely not easy, but this should alert the current trend in our country’s view of athletics. Joy and love should saturate children’s pursuit of sports, rather than loaded pressure and unrealistic expectations.
And, simply put, young people should pursue what they love, not what we love.
Such parenting is much easier said than done, but if handled rightly, a child’s dream can come true.
And it will be theirs, not ours.
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Detroit Pistons Draft Targets: Shabazz Muhammad, G/F-UCLA
This is the fourth in my series previewing potential draft targets for the Detroit Pistons.
In my previous three, we explored Michigan’s Trey Burke, Indiana‘s Victor Oladipo and Georgetown’s Otto Porter.
Since we began exploring potential draft picks for the Pistons, something profound has happened: The Pistons have begun losing at an alarming rate.
While this has effectively ended any playoff talk, it also has contributed two positives for the team going forward.
One, the Pistons no longer are in danger of losing their top pick this year. When they dealt Ben Gordon and his exorbitant contract to the Charlotte Bobcats, they had to include a first-round pick. That pick is lottery protected this year with subsequent protections running through the next two seasons as well.
The thinking was that the Pistons would improve enough over the course of this trade to basically nullify the damage of this pick. Obviously this has not happened yet.
Two, now the Pistons are in a real solid position to find themselves drafting in the top five this year instead of just barely in the top 10.
With just over a month remaining in the regular season, the Pistons find themselves with the league’s sixth worst record. They are only a half of a game ahead of being in the top three.
Of the Pistons’ remaining 14 games, six are against playoff teams, including one against the red-hot Miami Heat, two against the Chicago Bulls that may have Derrick Rose back and one against the surging Boston Celtics.
Additionally, should the Pistons decide to shut Andre Drummond down for the season, this team stands little chance of improving from their current nosedive.
As such, this has opened the door for substantive conversations about some of the elite players in this draft.
Given that the Charlotte Bobcats and Orlando Magic are really the only two teams likely to draft ahead of the Pistons and those two teams each will be focusing on big men, the Pistons could have their pick of the top swingmen in this year’s draft.
Therefore, the next few draft previews will focus on players that previously were thought to be out of the Pistons’ sights.
Scouting Shabazz Muhammad, G/F-UCLA
Nobody, outside of perhaps Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel, has had more hype attached to his name than Shabazz Muhammad.
Had the NBA not added the one-and-done rule a number of years back, Muhammad likely would have been a lottery pick last year, if not a top-five candidate.
When watching Muhammad, a few things naturally jump out.
First, he plays with a lot of basketball intelligence. Not since former Piston Richard Hamilton was in his prime have I seen a primary perimeter scorer move around so much without the ball.
He is constantly in motion, seamlessly moving in and out of screens and popping up in positions to make offensive plays.
However, his movement looks a lot more natural than most players out there. He essentially floats around the court, but always with purpose.
What separates him already from Hamilton is his range.
Prior to his first year in college hoops, I heard plenty of people talk about his need to improve his three-point shot. Either those reports were grossly overstated, or he has been cognizant of improving this aspect of his game.
Either way, ever since the year began he has been knocking down his three-pointers. With his lefty stroke, he calls to mind Michael Redd during his heyday with the Milwaukee Bucks. Additionally, he has just as quick a stroke, which should serve him well at the next level.
Another thing that sets him apart from other players his age is his body. This is a young man that is built to play professional basketball. He has long arms, a thick chest and a strong base to his frame.
He is going to be able to absorb contact at the next level and likely still finish strong. In this sense he calls to mind Rodney Stuckey. However, he shows the ability to finish quite a bit better than Stuckey and with his diverse offensive repertoire, teams won’t be able to cheap him.
Everyone knows Stuckey is going to the hoop because he can’t consistently do anything else; Muhammad can score in a number of ways so there won’t be that cushion.
Muhammad also has a strong mid-range game, showing the ability to score from anywhere on the court. Because he moves so well without the ball, he can float to soft spots in the zone if he encounters that defense.
Muhammad also has a nice post-up game, though he still needs to work on his baby hook shot, a weapon that he could use against smaller defenders like Tayshaun Prince has been doing for a decade.
Athletically, Muhammad is good but not elite. He isn’t going to be a guy who lives above the rim like some hoped coming into college.
The good news is that he has enough of an offensive game where that isn’t necessary. This also portends a longer career at the next level as he isn’t in danger of being a one-trick pony like former offensive juggernauts from his conference, like Harold Miner.
Some have called Muhammad a slasher, but I just don’t really see that in the professional game. He can use his body to get to the hoop and should open lanes given his range, but I see him more as a spot-up shooter.
There are certainly concerns about his game, concerns that could make his draft stock slip.
He does not have a consistent handle on his right hand. While he can score from either side of the hoop, he tends to favor his left hand and drive in that direction. This certainly will be an aspect of his game that he will need to improve.
Secondly, there should be concerns over whether or not he is better suited for the small forward or shooting guard position. His game and build suggest that he is built for the small forward spot, while his height (6’6″) would point to the two-guard position.
There is no question that Muhammad should have a fine career; however, there should be legit concerns over his ceiling as a pro.
How he fits Detroit
The Pistons need to address their wing positions drastically.
Part of the Pistons’ strategy for this draft is tied to their views on Brandon Knight. If they think Knight is their point guard of the future, then they will need to bring in not only a small forward but also a shooting guard as they don’t really have an ideal option on the roster.
However, if they decide to keep Knight at the two-guard spot, then they will need not only a point guard (provided they don’t bring back Jose Calderon) but also a small forward.
Muhammad should not be considered a small forward for this team. He is not an elite defender and his lack of size, paired with a starting backcourt that could be very small, could make the Pistons perimeter defense an absolute embarrassment.
The only way he fits in Detroit is if they decide to groom Knight to be their point guard. Muhammad could step in at the other guard spot and provide relief. He also would provide spacing through his deep range and another larger body on defense to take pressure off of Knight.
Outlook
Muhammad, should he fall to Detroit, might be too tempting to pass up, regardless of how he fits the team.
We saw this two years ago when Brandon Knight slipped in the draft. He didn’t necessarily fit with the team, but he was just too good to let slip further.
While this might be tempting, it isn’t clear exactly what the Pistons would be getting and if that is worth a top-five pick.
Muhammad will score at the next level, but it isn’t clear if he would do much else. He is a strong rebounder in college, but if he is playing outside in the pros at the off-guard, he likely won’t get as many opportunities.
He isn’t a great passer and is not an open-court menace. He is a good scorer that probably will be a 14-17 PPG player at the professional level.
Overall, I think the Pistons have better options in this draft. Muhammad doesn’t have the ceiling or athleticism of Oladipo, the ability to create like Burke or the overall defensive game of Porter.
While he is far from a potential bust, I just don’t see him as an ideal fit for the Pistons.
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UCLA Basketball: Bruins Need More Than Shabazz for Strong Tourney Showing
Freshman guard Shabazz Muhammad has played a key role in the UCLA Bruins performing well this season and sitting at No. 23 in the latest AP ranking, but the team will need more than just a strong game from him to perform well and last long in the Big Dance.
In his first year of college ball, Muhammad is averaging 18.1 points and five rebounds per game, shooting 45 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from three-point range. He has great size for a shooting guard at 6’6″, 225 pounds, and has an incredibly bright future.
His skills have led the Bruins to rank 25th in the nation in scoring and that is all well and good, but let’s take a look at the bigger picture.
UCLA plays in the Pac-12 and while it is not a bad or easy conference by any means, it isn’t exactly the Big Ten or ACC. Seeing as how the Bruins could be playing some stronger and deeper squads from those conferences in the big dance, one can see how a one-sided approach could come back to bite them.
Don’t get me wrong. That isn’t to say that Muhammad shouldn’t be a part of the team’s plans going forward, especially in the tournament. When push comes to shove, he is the star of the team and UCLA is going to need him to carry them forward in each and every game.
What I’m saying is that Muhammad cannot do it alone. As great a scorer as he is, to simply put the ball in his hands and hope for the best is not the right approach.
The man is going to need some help, particularly from teammate and fellow freshman Jordan Adams. Adams is not as strong a shooter as Muhammad, but still has managed to average 15.1 points per game on 46 percent shooting this season.
On top of that, he is a much better defender than Muhammad, averaging 2.1 steals per contest.
UCLA will also need some help in the paint, especially since they rank 83rd in rebounding. This could come from yet another freshman in Kyle Anderson, who has solid size at 6’9″, 235 pounds and is averaging 10.1 points to go with nine boards.
Throw in a solid passing game from senior guard Larry Drew II and more size in the paint from Travis Wear, and there are plenty of ways that the Bruins can balance their attack outside of Shabazz Muhammad and his scoring game. So long as head coach Ben Howland can draw up the right plays, there’s every possibility that UCLA can enjoy a long and successful run in the tournament.
But that’s only if certain players are willing to jump off of Muhammad’s back in key moments and help shoulder the load. Otherwise, the Bruins and their fans could be going home early and disappointed.
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