UConn Basketball Legend Joins Wizards In Coaching Role
He's arguably the best player in UConn history.
Former UConn Huskies guard Shabazz Napier is once again taking his talents to the NBA, this time in a coaching capacity.
According to a new report from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Shabazz is joining the Washington Wizards in a “coaching apprentice role”.
Napier, 34, spent half a decade in the NBA as a player (most recently with the Wizards, in 2020), and also spent multiple years overseas to considerable success.
Napier spent last season (2024-25) with German powerhouse Bayern Munich. In his first and only season with the club, Napier led Bayern to a Bundesliga title and took home the Bundesliga Finals MVP award.
While Napier never issued a public retirement announcement, news of him joining the Wizards’ staff all but confirms that he is stepping away from the game as a player.
It was a heck of a career for Napier, who was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and grew up in Mission Hill.
Shabazz played two years of high school ball at Charlestown High School before transferring to Lawrence Academy (Charlestown has since retired Napier’s number).
Napier emerged as one of the nation’s best guards as he advanced through high school, ultimately committing to UConn, where he proceeded to have one of the best careers that UConn’s storied program has ever witnessed.
Shabazz played a key role in two national titles for the Huskies, first as a freshman understudy to Kemba Walker and later as an upperclassmen leader. He’s arguably the most accomplished men’s UConn basketball player of all time.
Coaching should suit Napier well, as he always displayed a savvy for the game on both ends of the court. The Wizards got a good one.
