Timberwolves' Muhammad intends to legally change full name to 'Bazz'

Perhaps Timberwolves wing Shabazz Muhammad has been hanging around Rockets center Nene. Or maybe he just really loves the music of Sting and Madonna.

The 24-year-old recently informed reporters that he intends to legally change his name to his nickname, becoming "Bazz" - and just Bazz - according to the Star Tribune's Jerry Zgoda.

“I just like it,” Muhammad told the Star Tribune. “Everybody calls me that anyway.”

The NBA has a fairly rich tradition of name-changing. Some players, like Metta World Peace (born Ron Artest) and World B. Free (Lloyd Bernard Free) were looking to bring some aesthetic flair to their driver's licences. Others, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabar (Lew Alcindor) and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (Chris Jackson) switched to Muslim names mid-career to align with their religious beliefs.

Bazz's decision would be more comparable to what transpired with Wizards reserve Sheldon Mac (born Sheldon McClellan), who opted to shorten his name earlier in 2017 without dramatically changing his moniker.