Drafted by the Boston Celtics as the 24th overall pick in 1988, Brian Shaw’s career included stints with Il Messaggero Roma in Italy, a return to the Celtics, and contributions to teams like the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Notably, his time with the Los Angeles Lakers saw him clinch three NBA championships (2000, 2001, 2002) and play pivotal roles in the 2000 and 2001 NBA Finals. Beyond his team accomplishments, Brian Shaw left a lasting legacy with individual achievements in the league, such as setting an NBA record with ten three-pointers in a game and winning a gold medal with the US national team in the 1986 FIBA World Championship.
Shaw also received a key to the City of Oakland in 2000 during NBA All-Star Weekend. Finally, he retired after the 2002–03 season.
After retiring as a player, Brian Shaw transitioned into a successful coaching career in the NBA. Initially working as an Oakland-based scout for the Lakers during the 2003–04 season, he quickly climbed the coaching ranks.
Shaw became the assistant coach for the Lakers in the 2004–05 season and made contributions to his team’s success, notably achieving two NBA championships in 2009 and 2010. Later, he was even considered for the head coaching position after Phil Jackson’s retirement. However, he lost out to Mike Brown.
Next, Shaw then joined the Indiana Pacers as an assistant coach in 2011, earning respect from both fellow coaches and the media. He was later promoted to associate head coach.
In 2014, Shaw took on the role of head coach for the Denver Nuggets, but after a challenging tenure, he was fired in March 2015. Shaw returned to the Lakers in 2016 as the associate head coach. In 2020, he became the inaugural head coach of the G League Ignite, achieving a playoff berth with an 8–8 record before stepping down. Currently, since September 2021, Shaw has served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers.
