Timberwolves rookie Shabazz Muhammad wants to be 'a game-changer' http://0rz.tw/4zOBb Editor's note: Shabazz Muhammad was selected with the 14th overall pick in the NBA draft by the Utah Jazz, who traded him to the Timberwolves. Called a "once-in-a-generation talent" by CBS basketball analyst Greg Anthony coming out of high school, he did not live up to expectations set by Anthony and others during his only season of college ball, at UCLA. Muhammad, 20, is the latest subject in Pioneer Press sports columnist Bob Sansevere's continuing series of first-person stories. Oh, yeah, I'm quite a bit better than I looked in the NCAA tournament against Minnesota. And I've gotten a lot better. I've worked on my ball handling and jump shot. Growing up, the accolades were for me. Everybody was a fan. Now there are a lot of people doubting me. It's a motivation for me. It's making me stay in the gym and work out and expand my potential. It's huge to prove people wrong. It's why I'm always working on my game, to prove people wrong. I have to get better as a player. If I had a time machine, I'd go forward in time to see how things turns out. I'd only go about seven years. I could see where my career is. My favorite cartoon growing up was "Tom and Jerry." They were fun to watch, the cat chasing the mouse. If I could be any superhero, I'd want to be like Spiderman. He used webs to get different places. I'd use the web on the backboard and dunk from the other side of the court. Reese's Puffs is my favorite cereal. I started eating it when I was a kid. I just played basketball in high school -- no other sports. I think I was about six years old when I knew I was pretty good at playing basketball. I didn't know if I could get to the NBA, but I thought I could get my school paid for. First time I dunked was summer of the eighth grade. My parents had the biggest influence on me. They've been there for me since day one. My dad taught me how to play basketball. He played at USC. When I was a kid, I wanted to be an NBA player. I used to watch the NBA. Kobe Bryant was my favorite player. Worse thing I ever did as a kid? It probably was when I used to collect basketball trading cards. I took a pack of trading cards out of the store and my mom didn't know it. My mom got really mad at me, and I had to take them back. I was eight or nine. I get grumpy after a loss, but I've learned to stay positive. There's another game coming the next day. I try to get it out of my system as quick as possible. I'm a guy who wants to work. It's going to be really cold in Minnesota. I heard about that. Hopefully I can get a chance to ski. I've never done that. I'm an outgoing guy. Really easy to talk to. I want to help out people in the community. Funniest movie? I would say "Step Brothers." The best movie I ever saw was "42." That movie was pretty good. I don't have a favorite actor, but my favorite actress is Megan Fox. I like some actresses. I don't really have pet peeves. It's very important to be known as a great player. That's why I'm putting the work in. I want an opportunity to play and show my skills. I'd want my friends to say I'm a guy who doesn't act like he's in the NBA. To say, "He's a humble guy. He doesn't think he's better than anybody. He works really hard." The best book I ever read was "Black Like Me." It was a good book. I read it in college. I'm a big video game guy. I play "Call of Duty" and basketball games. My last meal probably would be from Raising Cane's. I like chicken fingers. I'm a guy who likes to eat all kinds of food. My new teammates would be surprised to know how humble I am and how nice I am. I like all music. What I listen to depends where I'm at. If I'm trying to go to sleep, I listen to smooth jazz. Before a game, it'd be more pop music. Kevin Love? We worked out a few times in Vegas and L.A. My favorite TV show is "SportsCenter." It's really neat when they show a highlight of me. But when highlights of me come on, I turn the channel. It's kind of weird seeing yourself on TV, especially when other people are in the room. I'm a humble guy. I don't like people talking about me. It makes me uncomfortable. I think a lot of the stuff that's gone on in my life has helped me be a better person and a stronger one. Best advice I ever got probably was to stay in the best shape as possible. That really helps. Worst advice? I've never gotten any. If I could trade places for a day with anyone, it'd be Kobe Bryant just to see how hard he works every day and see how my work ethic compares to his. When I'm gone, I want my epitaph to say, "Here lies Shabazz Muhammad, who was a game-changer, somebody who made a difference." --

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