Shabazz Muhammad sent home from NBA rookie program

Jeff Zillgitt | USA TODAY Sports

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Minnesota Timberwolves rookie guard Shabazz Muhammad was sent home from the NBA's Rookie Transition Program for violating a rule and bringing a female guest into his hotel room Tuesday evening, a person familiar with situation told USA TODAY Sports.

The person requested anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly about the situation.

"We have been made aware of the circumstances surrounding Shabazz Muhammad's dismissal from the NBA's Rookie Transition Program in New Jersey," Timberwolves President Flip Saunders said in a statement. "The team fully supports the NBA's rules and policies in all matters pertaining to this situation and we will abide by the league's action."

Muhammad, who also will be fined, was here for the four-day program which helps rookies transition into the league through a series of seminars, instructions and guest speakers.

Nearly 50 rookies or players are participating in the program, which ends Friday.

Just hours before Muhammad was sent home, players were given the rules for the program, which included no guests unless approved by program administrators.

Muhammad, the No. 14 pick in the draft, will have to return next summer and complete the program with the 2014 draft class and others who have not yet attended.

In 2008, Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur were expelled from the RTP after it was discovered women and the scent of marijuana were in the room. They were both fined $20,000. Later, Michael Beasley admitted he had been in the same room and was fined $50,000.