DALLAS – Former professional basketball player and current North Texas-area youth coach, Muhammad Shabazz (Belief Basketball Sharpshooters), was caught by surprise when he learned the Dallas Mavericks selected him as its 2018-19 Jr. NBA Coach of the Year.
“I showed up for a coaching event before a game one night and (former NBA champion) Shawn Marion held out his hand and said congratulations ‘Jr. NBA Coach of the Year,’” Shabazz said, while laughing and recalling the story to Mavs.com. “All kinds of emotions rushed in there. I was excited because it’s all for the kids. It really moved me to be selected by the Mavs.”
The former 6-foot-10 hoopster played professional basketball in 9 countries before retiring from the game in 2016. Shabazz later launched Belief Basketball SharpShooters, Inc., and became an official Jr. NBA and Jr. USA Team coach. BB SharpShooters is a non-profit organization is a year-round program based in Dallas-Fort Worth with a focus on impacting the skills, discipline, and passion for the game of basketball while helping student-athletes develop to increase their character in the community and the classroom.
Coach Shabazz was the perfect person to win this year’s honor, according to Mavs Basketball Academy youth manager, Brandon Barkley.
“We’ve never done a local Jr. NBA Coach of the Year, and this year we selected Muhammad Shabazz because he does a great job of representing all the things the Jr. NBA represents and the Mavs,” Barkley said. “We’re big on values with Mavs CEO Cynt Marshall coming on board and culture is very big with us. We seek to uplift, empower and encourage youth in the community and Coach Shabazz embodies everything we represent at the Dallas Mavericks.”
The Jr. NBA and Positive Coaching Alliance will announce the 2018-19 local winners nominated by the NBA and WNBA teams in February 2019. Shabazz now has the chance to win the prestigious Jr. NBA Award presented annually to a youth basketball coach in an NBA or WNBA team market which is making a positive impact on children by demonstrating outstanding integrity, character, and leadership.
Eight semifinalists will advance, and then the award will narrow down to three finalists with the NBA Coach of the Year winner named in April 2019. The Executive Voting Panel is comprised of various individuals from the Jr. NBA Leadership Council, NBA league office, and Positive Coaching Alliance. This panel is tasked with providing guidance on the selection of our Coach of the Year finalists and national winner based on their respective basketball knowledge and experience.
“I think two things stick out about Muhammad,” Barkley said. “He’s big on character and developing well-rounded young men beyond just the court. He told me about kids who were acting up and not being mindful of their culture, and he immediately removed them from the team. Once the athletes adjusted, he brought them back when they understood the importance of the program’s philosophy and what they represent. I think that says a lot because a lot of people are so focused on wins and losses, they won’t make those type of decisions. I was impressed with his desire to make these young men better in every area of life.”
Shabazz said no matter what happens next, he feels blessed to receive the honor from the Dallas Mavericks. When asked what the student-athletes team him about life, he paused and reflected and had this to say:
“Compassion. Patience. A love for the simplicity of the game. They’re not playing for money. That’s one thing I catch from them…they just have pureness and really love to compete and play the game. It hits me at the core to see them get upset or lose. I’m just genuinely passionate about the kids, and they make me a better person.”
ABOUT MUHAMMAD SHABAZZ AND BELIEF BASKETBALL SHARPSHOOTERS
Muhammad Abdul Malik Shabazz is the CEO of North-Texas-based Belief Basketball Sharpshooters. The 6-foot-10 former professional basketball was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and then moved to Hemingway, South Carolina, where he excelled at hoops and quickly accelerated through the ranks. He played college basketball at the University of Tennessee before transferring to Claflin University before turning pro and playing in 9 countries. Shabazz showcased his skills in France, Taiwan, China, Dubai, Peru, Basra, Colombia, Turkey Europe and also competed on the 2010 23U USA World Championship Team.
In 2016, he retired from professional basketball and became an official Jr. NBA and Jr. USA Team coach, forming Belief Basketball SharpShooters, Inc., during this time. The non-profit organization is a year-round program based in Dallas-Fort Worth with a focus on impacting the skills, discipline, and passion for the game of basketball while helping student-athletes develop to increase their character in the community and the classroom.
Muhammad’s ultimate goal is to use this organization not only to impact the basketball skills of upcoming athletes but to, more importantly, help increase their mental skill level by showing, giving and teaching them the necessary strategies and thought patterns that are needed to ensure that they finish as a champion in life.
ABOUT THE JR. NBA COACH OF THE YEAR
From the grassroots level to the professional level, the positive impact that a coach can have on an athlete is undeniable. A coach’s role extends further than wins and losses; it’s about teaching life lessons and developing young people into healthy, confident and respectful adults through the medium of sport. Each participating NBA and WNBA team nominates a local coach, who is automatically entered into the national Coach of the Year selection process. The Jr. NBA and Positive Coaching Alliance will conduct a screening process to narrow the pool of nominees to eight (8) national semifinalists. From the round of eight, an executive panel of judges, along with a fan vote via social media, will determine the top three finalists and national Jr. NBA Coach of the Year winner. The top three finalists will each be awarded with a financial grant to support their local youth basketball organizations and a free Positive Coaching Alliance training. The finalists will also receive a trip to Chicago where the Coach of the Year winner will be announced and honored on a national stage at the Jr. NBA Youth Basketball Leadership Conference on May 17, 2019.
ABOUT THE MAVS BASKETBALL ACADEMY
The Mavs Basketball Academy brings the excitement of the NBA to your com munity and is the #1 source for professional basketball training for every skill level of the game. Our basketball training organization is dedicated to helping athletes achieve basketball related goals by utilizing cutting-edge training techniques and a distinctive coaching style that stresses physical improvement, mental growth, and leadership necessary for long-term development and success.
Share and comment