Lakers Moments: Brian Shaw brings his wise ways

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Take notes: Lakers guard Brian Shaw works the ball against the Mavericks’ Steve Nash during the first quarter of a game in Dallas on April 18, 2000.

Shaw was one of several veteran players signed by the Lakers in 1999. He was brought in to provide strength and poise to a talented team with a young core that had wilted during the playoffs. The effect was immediate as the Lakers went on to win the title that season and the two following it.

During his career, Shaw had built a reputation as a smart player and, indeed, his time with the Lakers was never about numbers.

In fact, Shaw never averaged more than five points a game in any of his four seasons with the team. But to anyone who watched those Lakers teams, it was clear that Shaw’s composure and intelligence, especially when it came to grasping Tex Winter’s sometimes daunting triangle offense, were key for the team on the court, on the bench and in the locker room.

Given that, it was little surprise that after his retirement, Shaw found himself back on the Lakers bench, serving as an assistant to Phil Jackson.

Now he might be the next Lakers head coach.

Read more about Brian Shaw in All Things Lakers, the L.A. Times’ interactive database of all things purple and gold.

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-- Steve Lowery