New Denver Nuggets General Manager Tim Connelly wasted little time getting to work. After just a week on the job, reports now indicate that the Nuggets are about to hire Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw as the team’s new head coach. It is Shaw’s first head coaching job in the NBA.
Shaw does have plenty of experience though as he has been an NBA assistant for 8 years. From 2005 – 2011 Shaw was part of Phil Jackson’s staff in Los Angeles. He earned two NBA Championship rings as a coach to go along with his three won as a player. Shaw was even considered a candidate to replace Jackson when the coaching legend left the Lakers. When that didn’t happen he moved on to the Indiana Pacers where he has worked for the last two seasons.
Shaw replaces George Karl who was let go despite leading the Nuggets to 57 wins and a third place finish in the Western Conference. Unfortunately the Nuggets were upset in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. Karl though leaves some big shoes to fill, as the reigning NBA coach of the year.
Prior to becoming an assistant coach, Shaw spent 14 seasons in the NBA playing for the Celtics, Heat, Magic, Warriors, 76ers, Trailblazers and Lakers. He won his 3 Championships with the Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal led Laker teams of the early 2000s.
The next question for Connelly will be whether the hiring of Shaw will be enough to help sway free-agent swingman Andre Iguodala to re-sign in Denver.
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