Shabazz Muhammad is heading back to the PBA.
The former NBA pro has signed with Magnolia for the ongoing Season 49 Governors’ Cup, the league announced through its website Friday.
The announcement came a day before the Hotshots’ out-of-town game versus Meralco at the Panabo Multi-Purpose Tourism, Sports, and Cultural Center.
Muhammad, 31, will be taking the spot of fellow NBA veteran Glenn Robinson III, who has been relegated to the team’s injury/reserve list.
Magnolia has long been rumored to switch imports when the team only won once in its first three games of the season-opening conference.
Robinson III did perform well afterward, though, and helped the Hotshots notch back-to-back wins against Terrafirma and NorthPort, respectively.
Yet apparently, that wasn’t enough to keep his job as the perennial contenders decided to make the change by bringing in a veteran in ‘Bazz.’
It will be Muhammad’s second stint in the PBA after suiting up for San Miguel in the 2021-22 Governors’ Cup as a replacement for Orlando Johnson.
That run was best known for his 57-point explosion against Meralco, the team he initially committed to play for prior to the conference before backing out.
Muhammad led the Beermen to the quarterfinals before bowing out to – coincidentally – the twice-to-beat Bolts, who eventually made it to the Finals.
The UCLA product finished his maiden PBA campaign with averages of 35.3 points, 18.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and a block in four games.
After that SMB gig, Muhammad played in Lebanon, China, and Bahrain before flying back to the States to join the Stockton Kings of the G League.
The California-native then signed with Trotamundos de Carabobo of the Superliga Profesional de Baloncesto in Venezuela.
Now, he’s set to reinforce a Magnolia side currently sitting behind joint leaders TNT and Meralco, both of which are toting similar 4-1 records, in Group A.
It remains to be seen if he can make the trip to Davao to join his new team right away, as he’s still seeking a letter of clearance from GAB as of this posting.
