Earl Watson has an extensive history in the sport of basketball. After playing his high school ball in Kansas, and then playing collegiately for UCLA, the now 45-year-old Watson would play 13 seasons in the NBA. He spent some time after as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns. Seemingly a basketball lifer, Watson has now found a new coaching role, this time in the college ranks alongside a familiar face.
13-Year NBA Veteran To Join Steve Lavin’s Staff At San Diego
Watson Is Rejoining His College Coach From UCLA Days
It was reported on Friday by Chris Haynes that Watson is heading to the University of San Diego. He will take on the role of an assistant coach under head coach Steve Lavin.
Sources: Former NBA head coach Earl Watson is joining the University of San Diego coaching staff where he will reunite with head coach Steve Lavin who coached him at UCLA. pic.twitter.com/p0bAbfVOPa
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) September 13, 2024
Watson is very familiar with Lavin. That is because Lavin was Watson’s head coach while he played for UCLA from 1997-98 until 2000-01. They reached the NCAA Tournament all four seasons while Watson was playing, and three times reached the Sweet 16.
The 2024-25 season will be Lavin’s third as the head coach at the school. He previously spent seven years as the head coach at UCLA and five with St. John’s. There was a seven-win improvement from Lavin and San Diego in his second year compared to his first (11-20 in 2022-23, 18-15 in 2023-24). The Toreros haven’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 2008.
Previously Was Head Coach With The Phoenix Suns
After his playing career ended after the 2013-14 season, Watson got into coaching right away. His first gig came in 2014-15 as an assistant coach of the Austin Toros of the G League. The following season, he became an assistant with the Suns.
After starting the 2015-16 season slowly, Phoenix fired head coach Jeff Hornacek. Inserted into his role was Watson, who became the interim head coach for the rest of the season. The team went 9-24 under Watson that season, but Phoenix’s leadership liked the direction the team was headed in, and Watson became the permanent head coach.
In 2016-17, the Suns went 24-58. Watson lasted just three games into the 2017-18 season before he was fired. In the season opener, Phoenix was blown out by the Portland Trail Blazers, 124-76. In Watson’s last game as head coach, the Suns were embarrassed again by the score of 130-88 at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Watson was an assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
Lengthy Playing Career Mostly As A Reliable Backup Point Guard
After his UCLA playing days, Watson was selected in the second round (40th overall) in the 2001 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. Along with two stints in Seattle (later Oklahoma City Thunder), Watson also played in the league for the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz, and Trail Blazers over his 13 seasons.
Watson’s most productive season came in 2007-08 with Seattle where he started 73 of his 78 appearances. He posted career-high averages that season of 10.7 points and 6.8 assists. The previous season, Watson set his career-best scoring outing of 28 points on April 1, 2007 against the Nuggets. The six-foot-one point guard played in 876 career regular season games (227 starts) finishing with averages of 6,4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists.
