Shaw handles Sotto, rest of G-League team
Kai Sotto is tipped to be in good hands, with the Filipino teen tower to be handled by 14-year NBA veteran Brian Shaw in the NBA G-League team.
Shams Charania of top US sports site The Athletic broke the news on Tuesday, introducing the ex-LA Laker as the upcoming mentor of the new G-League squad set to serve as the reshaped pathway program to the NBA for top prospects around the world.
Apart from the 7-foot-2 Sotto, also in the new G-League team that will undergo exclusive NBA training program starting the 2020-2021 season are fellow high school standouts Isaiah Todd, Daishen Nix and Filipino-American sensation Jalen Green.
The G-League team will be the first developmental squad not affiliated with any NBA team that ushers in a new NBA route for elite prospects. It offers handsome salaries and exclusive training program.
The 18-year-old Sotto and the rest of the crew could well benefit from the wisdom, guidance and mentoring of Shaw with his rich coaching experience on top of his 14-year stint as an NBA player.
Alongside Shaquille O’Neal and the late Kobe Bryant, Shaw served as a solid part of the Lakers’ three-peat NBA championship run from 2000 to 2002.
The 1998 24th overall draft pick also played for Boston, Miami, Orlando, Golden State, Philadelpia and Portland before venturing into coaching in 2005.
He had deputy roles for the Lakers in 2005-2011 and 2016-2019. He also served as associate head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 2011-2013 before taking the saddle for the Denver Nuggets.
The 54-year-old Shaw is expected to instill winning culture and deep experience traits on the young NBA hopefuls as they embark on a historic chapter of the NBA G-League.