Denver, CO

Brian Shaw has finally landed his first NBA head coaching job with the Denver Nuggets after being an assistant mentor for almost a decade.

Shaw confirmed to ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne that he agreed to become the Nuggets head coach, replacing George Karl.

"I'm so appreciative for the opportunity to be able to lead this team and for the faith that Nuggets team president Josh Kroenke and general manager Tim Connelly have put in me," Shaw said.

"It's been a long time coming. I've been prepared by the best of the best for a long time. I'm just really looking forward to it," he added.

Shaw will have big shoes to fill as Karl led the Nuggets to 57 wins last season and bagged the Coach of the Year award. Karl, however, was fired after Denver lost in the first round of the playoffs.

"I look at the positive things that they did, the things they did well under George Karl, and try to continue to build on those," Shaw said. "And in some of the areas where they could use improvement, try to improve in those areas."

The 47-year-old Shaw worked as an assistant to Phil Jackson with the Los Angeles Lakers for six years before spending the past two seasons as an associate head coach with the Indiana Pacers.

Shaw was also considered for the Brooklyn Nets coaching job but he was beaten out by Jason Kidd for the position.

Nets-Hawks to play in London next season

Brooklyn, NY

The NBA announced that the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks will tip off January 16, 2014 as part of the NBA Global Games London 2014.

"We are very excited to once again represent the NBA in London," Nets general manager Billy King said in a statement. "The fans have always been very supportive, and we look forward to once again entertaining them with Brooklyn Nets basketball."

The Hawks organization indicated it was excited to be part of the venture, as well.

"Playing in London will be a special experience for our players and coaches, and we are proud to represent Atlanta in front of an international audience," Hawks president and GM Danny Ferry said in a statement.

The San Antonio Spurs will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 4 in Mexico City, making it the first time in league history a pair of games will be played outside the states and Canada.

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