Earl Watson begins coaching career as he aims to make his late brother proud

For years, Earl Watson's older brother encouraged him to retire from the NBA and pursue a second career in coaching. Watson, a respected veteran guard in the league, knew he wanted to eventually coach, but wasn't quite ready to give up playing. His career would go on to last 13 seasons, taking him from Seattle to Memphis, back to Seattle, to Denver, Oklahoma City, Indiana, Utah and Portland.

Not until the day after burying his brother Dwayne Hooks – who died on Aug. 30, 2014, as the victim of a shooting in Kansas City, Kan. – did Watson take his advice.

Hooks "used to say, 'Earl, if that's what you want to do, do it,' " Watson said. "He said, 'Earl your entire life you've helped the family and took us to a place where we would never be financially.' He said, 'Now it's time for you to do what's best for you. We're good. You don't have to keep playing for us. Do what your heart tells you do.' "

Watson, 35, now serves an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs' Development League franchise in Austin. He makes $30,000, a far cry from the $1.7 million veteran's minimum he could have made this season had he continued to play. The Spurs had initially called Watson in July about a coaching opportunity, but he was still undecided about retiring from playing. After helping bury his brother on Sept. 6, he finally called the Spurs and arranged to interview for the position.

Hooks' death shook Watson, who credits Hooks and his three other brothers from keeping him out of trouble as he grew up in Kansas City. Watson said he had four friends who were killed while growing up. He said he also witnessed a shooting in the school cafeteria in the sixth grade and had one of his nephews – a son of Hooks – die in a 2004 car accident after being "run off the road."

"My brothers kept me in the backyard and corrected life-changing mistakes where you could be at the wrong place at the wrong time," Watson said.

A retired police officer, Dwayne Hooks died after being shot during an altercation that also involved one of Watson's other brothers, Fernando Hooks. According to police reports, Fernando Hooks had an argument with his stepdaughter on Aug. 27, 2014. The stepdaughter left and returned with her boyfriend, Tremayne Quinn, which led to a physical altercation between Fernando Hooks and Quinn, according to the police report. After Dwayne Hooks joined the altercation, Quinn took out a gun and allegedly shot both brothers in the legs as he was running away, according to witness and police reports. A woman driving by in a car also was shot in the leg by a stray bullet, according to the police report.

Dwayne Hooks, 48, developed blood clots while being treated and died three days after the shooting. His death was ruled a homicide and Quinn has been charged with one count of voluntary manslaughter and two counts of aggravated battery.

"Since my brother died suddenly, I didn't get a chance to talk to him before," Watson said.

Watson also didn't get a chance to tell his brother he was seriously considering taking his advice to coach.

"I know [Dwayne] would have told me to follow my heart. He would have been proud of me," Watson said. "I had a conviction in my heart that I knew it was time."

Watson patterned his playing career knowing he wanted to eventually coach. So he learned from the coaches – including Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan, Hubie Brown, George Karl, Mike Fratello and Nate McMillan – he played under. Watson also was strongly influenced by late Hall of Fame coach John Wooden and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson during his UCLA days and Hall of Fame guard Gary Payton early in his playing career.

Watson said he signed with the Grizzlies in 2002 to learn from then-Grizzlies president and Hall of Famer Jerry West. He also signed with the Indiana Pacers in 2009 to learn from Hall of Famer and Pacers president Larry Bird.

"Playing for Larry Bird wasn't an accident. Me going with Jerry West wasn't an accident. Me going to Utah wasn't an accident," Watson said. "I didn't do anything by chance."

A discussion with Bird got Watson thinking about coaching.

"I was 30 years old and it kind of gave me a sense of direction," Watson said. "For Larry Bird to say that to me, it gave me confidence."

Watson's teammates also saw the makings of a coach.

"When I first came to Utah he was one of the first people I really talked to that got me ready for everything," Jazz forward Derrick Favors said. "I tell him all the time that I appreciate the time he had with me. … He will be a great coach. He has a knowledge of the game and knows how to really connect with the players."

Playing with Watson, Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard Damian Lillard said, was "one of the greatest things that happened in my career."

Watson actually accepted a job to become an assistant coach with St. John's University under his old UCLA coach Steve Lavin in the summer of 2013. Lavin, who was recently fired by St. John's, planned to announce the hiring on July 1, 2013. The announcement was postponed a month while Watson coached his AAU program. During the wait, however, Watson changed his mind and signed a one-year contract with the Blazers where he was expected to mentor Lillard and the team's other young players.

The Spurs eventually hired Watson, who ended his NBA career averaging 6.4 points and 4.4 assists in 878 games after being the 40th pick in the 2002 NBA draft.

"This is a man who has prepared himself to coach probably from the early days when he started playing," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. "He has great respect for the people he played for, the people he's played with. As a mentor, his impact on young players seems to be pretty powerful."

With Watson helping them, three of the D-League Austin players were promoted to the NBA this season: JaMychal Green, Bryce Cotton and Jarell Eddie. Buford said Watson also has had "significant influence" on Spurs rookie guard Kyle Anderson, who has shuttled between Austin and San Antonio this season.

Cotton credited Watson for helping him get signed by Utah.

"He meant a lot to me helping me get through the D-League process, teaching me little ins and outs to make me a better point guard," Cotton said. "Just knowing how to approach the game mentally, which definitely has helped to take my game to new levels."

After his brother's death, Watson is now helping his sister raise two of his brother's teenaged sons, along with his own infant son and 5-year-old daughter. He also plans on attending Quinn's trial, which is scheduled for April 20 but could be delayed.

"It's important for me to be at the trial," Watson said, "to give my parents complete comfort and to send a message that you might have killed one person in my family, but you didn't kill the family dream, motivation, aspiration."