Rambis, Shaw Join Coaching Staff

Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw will move from the Laker front office to the bench after the All-Star break, shoring up the coaching staff after Rudy Tomjanovich’s resignation this month.

Rambis, a member of four Laker championship teams as a forward in the 1980s, has seven seasons of coaching experience and will provide a veteran point of view while working with Laker post players.

Shaw, a steadying influence on Laker championship teams in 2000, ’01 and ‘02, is considered by many in the organization to have the touch and knowledge to one day be a head coach in the NBA.

The Laker staff has been short-handed since Tomjanovich resigned and Frank Hamblen was promoted from assistant to head coach Feb. 2. The Lakers’ first game after the All-Star break is Tuesday against the Boston Celtics at Staples Center.

“They’re both guys that Frank is very familiar with, and they’re very familiar with what Frank is familiar with regarding the offense and defense and game approach,” Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. “Brian played on the Lakers when Frank was an assistant. Kurt and Frank were assistants [together]. Plus they’re already employed by us. It’s a stroke of fortune that you have two guys like that and they’re available.”

Rambis, who will turn 47 next Friday, was an assistant coach under Del Harris from 1994 to ’97 and was 24-13 as interim coach after Harris was fired 12 games into the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season. Phil Jackson was hired as coach after the season.

Rambis moved to the front office as an advisor and assistant general manager for two seasons before returning to the bench as an assistant for three seasons. Rambis filled a business-development role this season.

Shaw, the Lakers’ assistant director of scouting the last two seasons, has earned players’ respect but his only experience as coach was helping out with the Lakers’ summer-league team last year.

Shaw, 38, had a 14-year NBA career and spent his final four seasons with the Lakers before retiring in 2003. He had never played more than three years with any of his previous six teams.

Shaw, who is close to Kobe Bryant, was referred to as the “troubleshooter” for his attempts to harmonize the Laker locker room at various points last season.