NBA champ Brian Shaw sees bright future for Kobe Paras

Brian Shaw, who won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers as a player and as an assistant coach, knows two things about the Philippines: One is the Filipino’s passion for basketball and the other is Kobe Paras.

Without any insinuation, Shaw, who is in town for the NBA Fit Week, spoke in length about Paras and the Filipino teen star’s bright future.

“I know right now there’s a lot of buzz in LA on a young player that’s going to attend UCLA next year Kobe Paras,” the former Denver Nuggets head coach told reporters before conducting a basketball clinic with the Letran Squires Wednesday at Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong City.

“Players like that, young players that have had the opportunity to look at NBA stars and watch a lot of basketball, it’s helped him now,” said Shaw. “And he may be with that next wave of stars or that next star that comes from here that may break through and get to the NBA.”

Brian Shaw trains athletes during the tip-off of NBA Fit Week on Wednesday in Mandaluyong City. TRISTAN TAMAYO/INQUIRER.net

The 49-year-old Shaw, who was part of the Lakers team led by future Hall-of-Famers Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant and won three straight titles from 2000-02, said he hadn’t seen Paras play in person but has heard a lot of positive news about the UCLA-commit.

“I’ve seen some videos and I’ve heard about him. There’s obviously a lot of buzz and people are talking about him,” Shaw said.

The 17-year-old Paras has been making waves in the US with his electrifying play as a high school star for LA Cathedral. His ultimate goal is to make it to the NBA and become the first Filipino to do so.

“I know he has good size about 6-5. He’s done well in some of the camps and tournaments that he’s played in. He has one more year left in high school so I’m looking forward to see how he does when he gets to UCLA.”