2013 NBA Draft: Shabazz Muahammad is Pac-12's first pick, makes surprising cameo
Shabazz Muhammad got the Conference of Champions on the 2013 NBA Draft big board in Brooklyn Thursday night, but also had one of the night’s most intriguing photo opportunities with NBA commissioner David Stern. The series of events began with the former UCLA standout being selected by the Utah Jazz with the 14th overall pick. At that time, roughly an hour and a half into the draft, Muhammad was not present for the standard handshake and photo.
With the 14th overall pick in the 2013 #NBADraft, the @utahjazz select @phenom15balla pic.twitter.com/a00Kf6E2NL
— NBA (@NBA) June 28, 2013
Within minutes, trade rumors started swirling that the Bruin alum was already being dealt from Salt Lake City to become part of the Timberwolves. While media reports on the trade circulated, something unexpected happened after the Chicago Bulls’ 20th pick was announced.
Without a pause or explanation for why it happened, Stern welcomed Muhammad to the stage. Even more bizarre: instead of coming up to the stage via the front steps like every other draftee, he emerged from a door at the back of the stage typically used only by the commissioner.
It made for an odd and confusing sequence of events to be sure. But in the end, Muhammad did indeed wind up with the T-wolves, being traded from the Jazz along with Gorgui Dieng for Trey Burke.
#Twolves trade rights to 9th pick (Trey Burke) for rights to both 14th pick (Shabazz Muhammad) and 21st pick (Gorgui Dieng)
— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) June 28, 2013
Certainly an interesting way to kick off the festivities for the Pac-12.