INDIANAPOLIS — It was inevitable that they would form a bond. They both share a fondness for fishing. One played with and coached Kobe Bryant. The other was a fan of Bryant's growing up and continues to admire his work ethic today.

With much in common, Indiana Pacers associate head coach Brian Shaw and swingman Paul George have developed a strong relationship marked by an open line of communication no matter whether the subject is positive or negative.

George also credits Shaw, along with head coach Frank Vogel, for helping him become an All-Star in just his third year in the league.

"He's really helped me out," George said of Shaw. "He's the one that gets on me. If I'm not playing well, if things aren't going right, and he knows I'm the reason for it, he'll let me hear about it."

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Shaw admits he didn't know much about George prior to becoming Vogel's lead assistant during the summer of 2011. Shaw knew George was from the Los Angeles area, went to Fresno State and grew up watching the Lakers.

During last season's lockout, when teams couldn't communicate with their players, Shaw watched film and broke down George's game.

He saw something special in the lanky 6-9 wing player.

"When he got here (after the lockout), I immediately noticed his size and his ability to defend and he had all the tools, the footwork," Shaw said. "It was just a matter of getting his confidence up."

George began picking Shaw's brain about Bryant's work ethic the first day they met.

"How is Kobe in practice? Does he show up early and stay late? What's his game-day ritual like?" George would always ask Shaw.

The relationship between Shaw and George didn't really take off, though, until the playoffs last season.

And it wasn't because of a spectacular play George made or a costly mistake on the court. It was during an afternoon fishing on Shaw's boat.

"It was me, him and his dad," Shaw said. "I just got a better feel for him. We talked about any and everything."

Shaw may come across as a soft-spoken person, but he doesn't have a problem speaking up to George or any other player when he sees something he doesn't like.

"He doesn't hold back on anything, and I mean anything," George said. "I like that. It's good to hear that. We do most of our talking while we're on the court or after practice. He'll also sit (with) me and we'll go over film."

George knows Shaw has the resume to back up what he says. Shaw won championships as a player and as an assistant with the Lakers. He's also played with future Hall of Famers.

"That holds a lot of weight," Shaw said. "When he's not doing something up to par or not working to the level I think he needs to be, I can always say (Bryant) ain't taking plays off. That holds weight with him."


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Shaw put George on the spot before the season started.

He told the third-year player that he was the team's "X-factor" and that they would only go as far as he could take them.

It wasn't meant as a knock on David West, Roy Hibbert, Danny Granger or George Hill. Shaw said it because the coaches knew what they would be getting from the other four starters, but George had the most room for growth.

George took Shaw's challenge to heart.

That's why he's heading to Houston this weekend for the first of what he hopes will be numerous All-Star appearances.

"I think during the whole playoff series last year, he made it pretty evident what we needed to do with him to take his game to another level," Shaw said. "I felt like if he would do it, our team would do it, too.

"It's hard because he's only 22 years old. A lot times you want to speed that experience up, but you can't. He's done a good job with it and he'll only get better."

Mike Wells writes for The Indianapolis Star, a Gannett property