Untitled Page

Earl Watson News & Rumors

Earl Watson Accuses Wife, Jennifer Freeman, of vicious attack
August 12
TMZ.com
 
"NBA veteran Earl Watson filed for divorce from his wife Jennifer Freeman -- claiming the "My Wife and Kids" actress attacked him in a late night rage ... and savagely bit him on the chest until he bled. According to legal papers filed last week in L.A. County Superior Court, Watson claims things got bad on August 1st ... when Jennifer received a suspicious text message at 11PM and Earl decided to check her phone. Watson -- who played with the Indiana Pacers last season -- claims his wife was furious that he took the phone and reacted by hitting him "forcefully twice in the face with her right open hand." Watson claims Jennifer then "grabbed my right wrist and bit ... breaking the skin,"
Watson went to UCLA because of John Wooden
June 5
Indianapolis Star
 
"Earl Watson had his choice of schools to choose from coming out of high school in Kansas City. Watson decided to attend UCLA for one reason, or I should say one person, John Wooden. "You go to UCLA because of coach Wooden," Watson said by phone from Los Angeles late Friday night. "You think of UCLA, you think of coach Wooden. You knew you were representing UCLA, but you also knew you were representing coach Wooden and everything he built." Wooden died Friday. He was 99. Wooden, nicknamed, "The Wizard of Westwood," led UCLA to 10 NCAA championships and 88 straight wins as coach of the Bruins. "Everything he has done for basketball, his creativity with the game, his pioneering with the"
Watson's absence puts Ford back in rotation
February 5
Indianapolis Star
 
"T.J. Ford won't spend the rest of the season on the Indiana Pacers' bench after all. Ford will end his 18-game hiatus when he backs up emergency starter A.J. Price against the Detroit Pistons tonight. Price is replacing Earl Watson, who will miss games tonight and Saturday at Milwaukee because of the death of his grandmother. "It's been tough," Ford said. "You want to play any time you're on the roster. It's a waiting game and it's out of my control. I just try to do the best I can to stay in shape and work on my game." Ford began the season as the starter but was taken out of the rotation Dec. 30 because of his season-long struggles. He is averaging 9.9 points, including 1-of-28 on"
Pacers guard Earl Watson was answer to a prayer
January 17
Indianapolis Star
 columnist Mike Wells
"Earl Watson never met Annesha Wilson. Never watched her dance. Never heard her sing Beyonce's songs. Never saw her smile. "She had eyes where she could get almost anything out of you," her mother, LaTisha Wilson, said. The 5-year-old girl everyone called "Sparkle" touched his heart anyway. Today, Watson will hold "Annesha's Angels Celebrity Basketball Game" at Lawrence Central High School to raise money for the family trying to cope with her death. "I don't believe in setting limits," said Watson, an Indiana Pacers guard. "My goal is to raise as much money as possible. I just try to use every tool and resource I have to try and turn things around, help the family get a foundation"
Watson not bitter about the past
January 10
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers point guard Earl Watson could easily be bitter at the Oklahoma City Thunder organization. Watson started 126 games in parts of four seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics/Thunder franchise, only to spend the final couple of months riding the bench as the team went to a youth movement. Watson, who had his contract bought out over the summer, said he's not bitter because he understands it's a business. "It was a mutual agreement," Watson said. "It was never personal. I understand the business of basketball." Watson averaged 6.6 points and 5.8 assists in 68 games, including 18 starts, last season. "I think last year was a pretty interesting year," he said. "It was pretty"
New Pacers guard brings toughness
July 29
Indianapolis Star
 
"Somewhere Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien was smiling. He has a player who shares some of his qualities. Point guard Earl Watson loves to practice and hates to lose. Those similarities should make Watson and O'Brien the perfect pair. Watson signed a one-year deal for almost $3 million with the Pacers on Tuesday. "I feel he's the best (free agent point guard) out there," Pacers president Larry Bird said. "(Allen) Iverson's out there, but for what we need, he's the best for us." Forward Solomon Jones, who agreed to terms last week, is expected to sign a two-year contract later this week. The Pacers will have 13 players under contract once Jones signs, and Bird said they will go into next"
Pacers sign point guard to 1-year, $3M deal
July 29
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers announced the signing of point guard Earl Watson today. Watson, who is heading into his ninth season, signed a one-year deal worth almost $3 million. "My role is helping the team win," Watson said. "Being a leader whichever way I can be. Whether it's by skill or being vocal or by example; just going out and helping the team win." Watson, who was waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder on July 17, averaged 6.6 points and 5.8 assists in 68 games last season. He'll likely back up starter T.J. Ford next season."
Earl Watson changes agencies
June 5
The Oklahoman
 
"Watson grew frustrated last season with his situation as a member of the 23-win Thunder and was believed to be disappointed in his agent's handling of the matter. Watson never publicly said he desired to be traded but did say at the end of the season that he doesn't expect to return."You never know, this business is incredible," Watson said in April. "But going into the last year of my deal, business-wise you become an attractive contract. And for the last month I haven't been playing. So why would I be here?"Watson, who turns 30 on June 12, is owed $6.6 million next season."
Earl Watson says he doesn't think he'll be here next season
April 13
The Oklahoman
 
"Earl Watson thinks the final two games will be his last in a Thunder uniform. The reserve point guard said coach Scott Brooks' future with the team won't impact him one way or the other. "I don't think I'm going to be here regardless," said Watson, who has one year remaining on his contract next season for $6.6 million."You never know, this business is incredible. But going into the last year of my deal business-wise you become an attractive contract. And for the last month I haven't been playing. So why would I be here?"Watson, who began the season as the starting point guard, was replaced by rookie Russell Westbrook on Nov. 29, two weeks into Brooks' tenure as interim coach. Watson was"
Earl Watson's new role
December 2
The Oklahoman
 
"In his first game since being replaced in the starting lineup by Russell Westbrook, Earl Watson contributed nine points and seven assists off the bench in Saturday's win over Memphis. "It's important that we have professionalism, and Earl brings that," Brooks said. "I don't have any experience being demoted from a starter to a bench player. I only started six games in my career, and that was because of injury."It's tough, but you have to handle it. Earl is a pro. He knows what's at stake. He wants to play well when he's on the court."LONG-RANGE IMPROVEMENT Forward Jeff Green leads the Thunder in 3-point field goals (23) and 3-point field goal percentage (46.9). He's already made two more"
Q
November 10
The Oklahoman
 
"Q: Is it true you play with a pretty big chip on your shoulder? A: (Laughs). I like to say I play with an edge. It's all a reflection of how I grew up and where I came from. That was the only way I could get on the court, because I used to play against a lot of older guys in the neighborhood. They played rough, so I learned in order for me to stay on the court and be effective in that game I had to play tough, I had to play with an edge and I had to play with a chip on my shoulder so to speak. Q: How much has that chip helped you get to where you are now? A: It helped me a lot because it helped me get away from my city and my so-called environment and go beyond. Everything plays a part in"
Thunder point guard Earl Watson dismisses trade rumor
November 10
The Oklahoman
 
"Thunder point guard Earl Watson dismissed a report in Sunday's editions of the New York Daily News that he's seeking a trade. "To me, it's kind of like speculation because I've never said anything to nobody," Watson said. "It wasn't a direct quote, so I don't know where he was going with that comment."The report claimed Watson, the team's starter, was "stuck behind rookie Russell Westbrook." Watson, however, was fourth on the team in minutes played before Sunday's game against Atlanta.Watson said he hasn't spoken with his agent, Dan Fegan, or Thunder general manager, Sam Presti, regarding a trade."I definitely haven't gone to Sam," Watson said. "If it was to the point where I needed to do"
Thunder's Watson a man of many cultures
November 2
The Oklahoman
 
"Earl Watson held the tattered, yellowed paper now laminated against time. The thumb-print-sized photo on the card looked ever so slightly like him. The strong chin. The arched eyebrows. The dark eyes. Even the mustache.Watson never met the Mexican man in the photo, but the Thunder guard feels forever indebted to him. That is why he has kept his grandfather's green card. When Watson holds it, he holds history. "The history of my family," he said.Watson is biracial. His mother, Estrella, is Mexican while his father, Earl Sr., is black. Even though his name may not hint at his Hispanic heritage, Watson believes he wouldn't be where he is or who he is without it. He may not be the biggest star"
Watson to teach and play point
October 1
The Oklahoman
 
"Earl Watson started all 129 games his four seasons at UCLA. In the NBA, the seven-year veteran point guard primarily was a backup. Until last season. Whether Watson remains the Thunder's starting pointing guard will revolve around how quickly rookie Russell Westbrook matures. After averaging a career high 6.8 assists last season in Seattle, Watson will mentor Westbrook, another UCLA product, who was the No. 4 pick in the draft. "I came in the league with Gary Payton so it will be easy for me to teach him the position, which to me is one of the hardest positions in the NBA,” Watson said. "The transition from college to the NBA at that position is as much mental as physical. It's an"