Raptors finalizing deal to add Earl Watson as assistant coach

According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, former Phoenix Suns coach Earl Watson will be joining the Raptors as an assistant on Nick Nurse’s staff.

After being pursued by multiple teams, former Phoenix Suns head coach Earl Watson is finalizing a deal to join the Toronto Raptors coaching staff, league sources tell @YahooSports. Devin Booker credited Watson for his accelerated development. pic.twitter.com/I1FQYpBkmr

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 26, 2021

Aside from spending time as an assistant for the G-League’s Austin Spurs during the 2014-15 season, Watson coached Phoenix from 2015 to 2017, amassing an overall record of 33 and 85 through 118 games. He was fired three games into the 2017-18 campaign after losing each of those contests.

Although Watson’s time in Arizona was relatively short, Devin Booker praised his former coach right before game two of the All-Stars first-ever, and this years, NBA Finals.

“He was one of the early ones in the NBA industry to believe in me to that extent. I think it started with him being my player development (coach) before he was the head coach… He was on the court with me, sweating with me, putting in the work with me and just coincidentally happened that he ended up being the head coach.”

Watson was selected with the 39th overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft by the Seattle Supersonics. In addition to his time with the Seattle, he also donned uniforms for the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, the Sonics again  (who then turned into the Oklahoma City Thunder after 2008),  Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz, and Portland Trail Blazers.

Throughout his 13-year tenure as a player, Watson played point guard with career averages of 6.4 points, 4.4 assists, and one steal.