MEMPHIS – Earl Watson played in seven NBA cities and had more head coaches (14) than seasons (13) but nothing in his professional playing career formed who he is as a new head coach more than his time in Memphis with Hubie Brown.
Had an impulsive 22-year-old Watson had his way, it would have never come to be. Watson was in his second NBA season, having chosen to sign with Memphis to be around then-Grizzlies general manager Jerry West without even looking at Seattle’s counteroffer to retain him.
Before the Grizzlies had playoff teams and FedEx Forum, Memphis was the second basketball team in town to the University of Memphis.