Shabazz Muhammad plans to legally change his name to the single word 'Bazz'

Dan Devine
·Senior NBA writer
Shabazz Muhammad thinks about how good it’s going to feel to shed all those excess letters. (Getty)
Shabazz Muhammad thinks about how good it’s going to feel to shed all those excess letters. (Getty)

Listen, sometimes you don’t really need a great reason to do something. Sometimes, it’s just time to do something.

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This is apparently why Shabazz Muhammad — noted Minnesota Timberwolves forward and off-the-bench bucket-getter — has decided that it is time for him to make a somewhat curious change. From Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

The Timberwolves’ newly remodeled Target Center locker room designed to impress both current players and future free agents alike arranges lockers circularly. Each includes a lighted plate bearing the player’s first and last name.

Except for one: Reserve forward Shabazz Muhammad’s just reads “Bazz” for a reason.

Muhammad said before Friday’s 119-116 victory over Oklahoma City that he intends to legally change his name to just the short, single nickname.

“I just like it,” he said. “Everybody calls me that anyway.”

That’s it. Just, “I like it, and everybody already calls me that.” Done and dusted.

I have to say, I really respect Muhammad’s — excuse me: Bazz’s — particular reasoning here. I would totally do that, too, except that if I decided to change my name to one of the things everybody calls me in the always joyous Yahoo comments, I’d have to start signing all correspondence with phrases used to describe taboo and frankly uncomfortable acts of intercourse. So, I think I’ll stick with what I was born with. For now, at least.

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Bazz — who already has the appropriate Instagram name on lock — says he’s not sure how involved the process of legally changing one’s name is, or how long it will take for him to get announced as just Bazz, one word, solo, like Nene or Pele or Madonna or Prince. To be honest, I don’t anticipate much static on either front. On the latter score, Joel Embiid didn’t have to sign any paperwork to get the 76ers’ public address announcer to start introducing him as “The Process” before games only a few outings into his pro career. And on the former, according to the first link I found in an Internet search for “how do you change your name” many days of exhaustive research on the matter, the process can vary depending on the state in which you live, but “the most important thing to do to legally change your name is to start using your new name.” It seems like Bazz is well on his way there!

We will, of course, keep you updated on any developments to this story as it progresses. Our only hope is that everything’s legal and squared away by this summer, when Bazz holds a $1.8 million player option for the 2018-19 season that he can decline to enter unrestricted free agency. Sure, there’s a long time between now and July, but I’m just going to throw this out there: “Utah Bazz.” Some things are just written in the stars. (And also on the name plates over lockers. And in legal documents ensuring you can reduce your name to a mere four characters.)

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Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at devine@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!