Shabazz Napier

Shabazz Napier
Born	(1991-07-14) July 14, 1991 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Professional basketball player, coaching apprentice
Years active	2010–present
Known for	Two-time NCAA champion with UConn Huskies; NBA career; coaching apprentice with Washington Wizards

Shabazz Bozie Napier (born July 14, 1991) is a former professional basketball athlete from Puerto Rico who currently serves as a coaching apprentice with the Washington Wizards in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Selected 24th overall in the 2014 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets, he was promptly traded to the Miami Heat. During his collegiate career, Napier played for the Connecticut Huskies, capturing two national titles in the 2011 and 2014 seasons.

Napier played a significant role on the Huskies’ 2010–11 championship squad and was honored on the Big East All-Rookie team. After his junior year, he earned a spot on the All-Big East first team. In the 2013–14 season, he received unanimous selection to the All-AAC first team and was named the first-ever American Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He was instrumental in securing UConn’s second NCAA championship within four years and was awarded the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player distinction.

Early life

Born in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood, Napier is the son of Carmen Velásquez from Puerto Rico and Alex Napier, who is African American. He has an older sister named Titania and a brother named Timmie. Growing up in Boston’s Mission Hill area, he developed a passion for basketball at a young age.

High school career

Napier spent his initial two years of high school at Charlestown High School in Boston before transferring to Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts, where he reclassified as a junior. In his senior year, he led Lawrence Academy to an unblemished 29–0 record and secured the New England Prep Class C championship, earning Tournament MVP recognition.

Rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Napier was ranked No. 25 among point guards and No. 98 overall nationally in 2010.

In January 2014, Charlestown High honored him by retiring his jersey number.

Freshman season

Napier committed to play under coach Jim Calhoun at the University of Connecticut. During the 2010–11 season, serving as backup to Kemba Walker, he appeared in all 41 games off the bench, averaging 7.8 points, 3.0 assists, and 1.8 steals per contest. He was named to the Big East All-Rookie team alongside teammate Jeremy Lamb.

In the Final Four against Kentucky, Napier hit two crucial free throws that sealed the game. Connecticut concluded the season with a 32–9 record, capturing both the Big East Conference title and the National Championship in 2011.

Sophomore season

Following his freshman year, Napier received an invitation to try out for the 2011 World University Games squad. As a sophomore starter for UConn, he garnered preseason honorable mention All-Big East recognition and was considered a candidate for the Bob Cousy Award. His statistics improved notably, averaging 13.0 points, 5.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game.

On November 20, 2011, Napier achieved his first career triple-double—only the ninth in Connecticut men’s basketball history—with totals of 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists versus Coppin State. The Huskies entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 9 seed but were defeated by Iowa State, ending their campaign with a 20–14 overall record (8–10 in conference play). Prior to his junior year, despite contemplating transferring due to Jim Calhoun’s retirement and a postseason ban imposed on the team, Napier ultimately decided to remain at UConn following assistant coach Kevin Ollie’s promotion to head coach.

Junior season

Napier, alongside backcourt partner Ryan Boatright, established themselves as one of the premier guard duos nationally, combining for an average of 33 points and 9 assists per contest. He reached the milestone of 1,000 career points in a matchup against DePaul and demonstrated exceptional performance in overtime, contributing 55 points across those periods and helping the team set a school record with five overtime victories. His season averages included 17.1 points, 4.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game.

Napier received All-USBWA District 1 recognition and was honored as the USBWA District I Player of the Year. He earned a spot on the Big East All First Team and was given an honorable mention for Big East Player of the Year. Under the guidance of first-year head coach Kevin Ollie, he led the Huskies to a 20–10 overall record with a 10–8 mark in conference play despite being ineligible for postseason competition.

Senior season

On April 26, 2013, Napier announced his decision to return for his senior year with teammates Ryan Boatright and DeAndre Daniels, motivated by the goal of completing his degree and competing again in the NCAA Tournament. He was named a candidate for multiple prestigious awards including the Wooden Award, Bob Cousy Award, Naismith Award, Senior Class Award, and Oscar Robertson Trophy. On November 11, 2013, Napier recorded his second career triple-double—only the tenth in UConn history—with totals of 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. He led the Huskies to victory in the 2K Sports Classic, earning Tournament MVP honors after delivering a game-winning shot against Florida.

Napier was unanimously selected to the AAC All-First Team and received the inaugural AAC Player of the Year accolade. For a second straight year, he was named USBWA District I Player of the Year and garnered first-team All-American distinctions from the Wooden team, Associated Press, USBWA, and NABC; Sporting News placed him on their second team. During the AAC Tournament, he earned a place on the All-Tournament team as Connecticut advanced to the final before falling to Louisville.

In the NCAA Tournament as a No. 7 seed coached by Kevin Ollie, Napier guided Connecticut past St. Joseph's, Villanova, Iowa State, and Michigan State—securing East Regional Most Outstanding Player honors. The Huskies proceeded through the Final Four by defeating Florida en route to reaching the National Championship game. On April 6, he was awarded the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year. The following day, Napier led UConn to a 60–54 win over Kentucky, earning NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player recognition. Connecticut concluded with a 32–8 overall record (12–6 conference), with Napier averaging 18.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Subsequently, he was inducted into the Huskies of Honor.

Napier is one of only three Division I men's basketball players—including teammates Niels Giffey and Tyler Olander—to claim national championships as both freshmen and seniors. He holds a unique place in UConn history for accumulating over 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, and 250 steals throughout his collegiate career. His rankings at UConn include fourth all-time in scoring (1,959 points), second in three-pointers made (260) and steals (251), first in games played (143) and free throws made (509), as well as third in assists (646).

Miami Heat (2014–2015)

Napier was chosen 24th overall in the 2014 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets on June 26, 2014, but was promptly traded to the Miami Heat. He inked a contract with Miami on July 18, 2014, following an average of 10.2 points over four Summer League appearances. Throughout the season, Napier was assigned multiple times to the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League to aid his growth. On February 20, he delivered a season-high performance with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists during a victory against the New York Knicks.

Napier’s campaign was cut short on April 1, 2015, after undergoing successful surgery for a sports hernia. He later participated in the Heat's summer league roster in July.

Orlando Magic (2015–2016)

On July 27, 2015, Napier was traded to the Orlando Magic along with cash considerations in exchange for a conditional second-round pick in 2016. He set a personal best by scoring 22 points on November 11 in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Portland Trail Blazers (2016–2018)

Napier was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for cash considerations on July 7, 2016. On April 10, 2017, he achieved a career-high of 32 points in a close game against the San Antonio Spurs.

On December 28, 2017, stepping in for an injured Damian Lillard, Napier scored 15 of his season-best 23 points during the fourth quarter, leading Portland to a comeback victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Brooklyn Nets (2018–2019)

Napier signed with the Brooklyn Nets on July 17, 2018. He matched his career-high by scoring 32 points on December 29 in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, shooting 9-of-15 from the field and converting 10 of 12 free throws. On January 11 against the Toronto Raptors, he extended his streak of games scoring at least ten points to eight, marking a personal record. He recorded his first career double-double on February 6 with 10 points and 11 assists in a win over the Denver Nuggets. He completed the season averaging 9.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while playing an average of 17.6 minutes per contest.

Minnesota Timberwolves (2019–2020)

As part of the Kevin Durant trade on July 7, 2019, Napier was sent to the Golden State Warriors along with Treveon Graham and D'Angelo Russell. The following day, Napier and Graham were traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for draft rights to Lior Eliyahu.

Washington Wizards (2020)

On February 5, 2020, the Timberwolves included Napier in a four-team trade that sent him to the Denver Nuggets. The very next day, he was dealt to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Jordan McRae.

Zenit Saint Petersburg (2021–2022)

Napier inked a one-year agreement with Russian team Zenit Saint Petersburg on July 19, 2021. However, on February 27, 2022, he chose to terminate his contract, citing the Russian military actions in Ukraine as the cause.

Mexico City Capitanes (2022–2023)

Napier was named to the initial roster of the Mexico City Capitanes for their season opener on November 4, 2022.

Olimpia Milano (2023)

On January 28, 2023, Napier signed with Olimpia Milano, competing in Italy’s top professional league, the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).

Crvena zvezda (2023)

Napier agreed to a two-year contract with Serbian club Crvena zvezda on July 16, 2023. His stint was overshadowed by controversies and underwhelming performances, with reports suggesting he frequently avoided playing against teams he might join in the future. Following a public disagreement with head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos in December, he was released on the condition that he return to his former team, Olimpia Milano.

Return to Olimpia Milano (2023–2024)

Napier rejoined Olimpia Milano on December 21, 2023, now under the guidance of coach Ettore Messina.

Bayern Munich (2024–2025)

On September 4, 2024, Napier signed with Bayern Munich, participating in both the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) and the EuroLeague. He departed from the club on August 17, 2025.

National team career

Thanks to his mother and manager Carmen Velásquez’s Puerto Rican heritage, Napier qualifies to represent Puerto Rico according to FIBA eligibility rules.

After formal discussions with the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation on February 19, 2012, he submitted all necessary paperwork and agreed to attend practice sessions for Puerto Rico’s national team ahead of the 2012 Centrobasket qualifier for the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship. Unfortunately, an injury prevented his participation.

In December 2013, then-head coach Paco Olmos held a meeting with Napier and Velásquez to outline his involvement in the program. The encounter was described as "productive," maintaining positive communication between both parties.

When discussing his potential commitment to Puerto Rico in 2014, Napier expressed excitement about the opportunity, noting it would be a distinctive experience aligned with his aspirations and an honor reflecting both his development at UCONN and his mother’s pride.

Coaching career

On October 20, 2025, the Washington Wizards appointed Napier as a coaching apprentice under head coach Brian Keefe.

Regular season

|- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Miami | 51 || 10 || 19.8 || .382 || .364 || .786 || 2.2 || 2.5 || .8 || .1 || 5.1 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Orlando | 55 || 0 || 10.9 || .338 || .327 || .733 || 1.0 || 1.8 || .4 || .0 || 3.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Portland | 53 || 2 || 9.7 || .399 || .370 || .776 || 1.2 || 1.3 || .6 || .0 || 4.1 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Portland | 74 || 10 || 20.7 || .420 || .376 || .841 || 2.3 || 2.0 || 1.1 || .2 || 8.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Brooklyn | 56 || 2 || 17.6 || .389 || .333 || .833 || 1.8 || 2.6 || .7 || .3 || 9.4 |- | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| | style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota | 36 || 22 || 23.8 || .403 || .296 || .818 || 3.1 || 5.2 || 1.1|| .2||9.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"| Washington |20||10||24.4||.428||.358||.831||2.4||3.8||1.5||.2||11.6 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career |345||56||17.4||.397||.345||.815||1.9||2.5||.8||.1||7.1

Playoffs

|- | style="text-align:left;"| 2017 | style="text-align:left;"| Portland | 4 || 0 || 11.8 || .421 || .455 || .750 || 1.0 || .8 || .5 || || 6.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2018 | style="text-align:left;"| Portland | 2 || 0 || 17.5 || .455 || .000 || .500 || 1.0 || 1.5 || 1.5 || || 5.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2019 | style="text-align:left;"| Brooklyn | 3 || 0 || 9.3 || .636 || .600 || .875 || 2.3 || 3.7 || .3 || || 8.0 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 9 || 0 || 12.2 || .488 || .400 || .778 || 1.4 || 1.9 || .7 || || 6.9

EuroLeague

|- | style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23 | style="text-align:left;"| Olimpia Milano | 12 || 10 || 24.8 || .455 || .456 || .875 || 1.8 || 3.9 || 1.1 || || 15.0 || 16.4 |- | style="text-align:left" rowspan="2"| 2023–24 | style="text-align:left;"| Olimpia Milano | 16 || 16 || 27.1 || .361 || .284 || .852 || 2.5 || 4.0 || 1.1 || || 10.9 || 11.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| Crvena zvezda | 12 || 7 || 17.7 || .367 || .305 || .826 || 1.7 || 2.3 || 1.3||  ||9.8||7.8 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center" colspan="2"| Career | 40 || 33||23.6|| .391|| .344|| .857||2.0||3.5||1.2|| ||11.8||11.8

Domestic leagues

Year	Team	League	GP	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2014–15 NBA Development League season	style="text-align:left;" | Sioux Falls Skyforce	style="text-align:center;" |NBA G League	4	34.0	.419	.450	.810	4.7	3.5	.7	.2	19.5
2022–23 NBA G League season	style="text-align:left;" |Template:Country data MexicoTemplate:Namespace detect showall Mexico City Capitanes	style="text-align:center;" |NBA G League	10	29.8	.472	.464	.816	2.3	4.6	2.0	.3	22.3
2022–23 LBA season	style="text-align:left;" | Olimpia Milano	style="text-align:center;" |Lega Basket Serie A	26	24.8	.421	.383	.852	2.6	3.9	1.2	0	14.5
2023–24 ABA League First Division	style="text-align:left;" |Template:Country data SerbiaTemplate:Namespace detect showall KK Crvena zvezda	style="text-align:center;" |ABA League	9	21.0	.451	.350	.870	1.8	4.4	1.6		10.9

College

|- | style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11 | style="text-align:left;"| Connecticut | 41 || 0 || 23.8 || .370 || .326 || .771 || 2.4 || 3.0 || 1.6 || .1 || 7.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2011–12 | style="text-align:left;"| Connecticut | 34 || 31 || 35.0 || .389 || .355 || .743 || 3.5 || 5.8 || 1.6 || .3 || 13.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2012–13 | style="text-align:left;"| Connecticut | 28 || 26 || 37.3 || .441 || .398 || .819 || 4.4 || 4.6 || 2.0 || .1 || 17.1 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14 | style="text-align:left;"| Connecticut | 40 || 40 || 35.1 || .429 || .405 || .870 || 5.9 || 4.9 || 1.8 || .3 || 18.0 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 143 || 98 || 32.3 || .411 || .375 || .813 || 4.0 || 4.5 || 1.8 || .2 || 13.7