With 40th pick, Seattle drafts Watson
By Daily Bruin Staff
July 1, 2001 9:00 p.m.
 JESSE PORTER/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Former UCLA captain
Earl Watson maneuvers between several Cougars for
a reverse layup against Washington St. last season.
By AJ Cadman
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
The luster of UCLA’s Iron Man will have a chance to shine
brightly in the Emerald City.
Recent graduate Earl Watson was selected Wednesday as the 40th
pick of the 2001 NBA Draft by the Seattle Supersonics. He was the
seventh of nine point guards selected in the draft, and also the
seventh Pac-10 conference player chosen of 11.
“It’s a big relief,” Watson said on Draft
Night. “You know the players, you know the team, and you know
where you’re going to be living the next few
years.”
Watson furthers UCLA’s streak to five consecutive years of
a Bruin chosen in the two-round draft–the longest since 1985.
“You really can’t place any value on where you get
drafted. I’ve always been in a situation to prove myself and
I’m very confident in my abilities.”
Watson, who started all 129 games in his illustrious UCLA
career, is optimistic about the opportunity to absorb additional
knowledge of the game from current Sonic point guard Gary Payton,
who is rumored to be on his way out of Seattle.
“I have a lot of respect for Gary Payton. I tried to
emulate him all throughout college,” Watson said. “He
knows how to lock down players. I’m going to face him every
day in practice, and he’s going to help me grow and help
every aspect of my game.”
Seattle was one of the 10 clubs Watson worked out for. He flew
out on graduation day after receiving his degree in history.
“This is like the beginning,” he said.
“It’s like writing a masterpiece. It doesn’t
matter so much how it starts; you mostly get excited for the
conclusion.
“I had an idea they were very interested,” Watson
continued. “Everybody talks about getting drafted by the
right team, one that fits you. This is that team for me.”
Watson also expressed his surprise in conference players not
selected in the first round of this year’s NBA draft.
Arizona took the biggest hit on Wednesday with four early entry
losses. Wing-forward Richard Jefferson was the 13th and final
lottery pick by New Jersey. Shooting guard Gilbert Arenas went
early in the second round at No. 31 to Golden State. Power forward
Michael Wright went to New York at No. 39 just prior to
Watson’s name being called.
But the deepest and most shocking slide of the evening was
center Loren Woods falling to Minnesota with the 46th pick of the
58-player draft. Slated up to draft day as a first-round and
possible lottery pick, Woods has been tabbed as a soft player
throughout his four-year stint at Wake Forest and Arizona.
Stanford’s Jason Collins was the only other first-round
conference pick at No. 18, joining Jefferson with the Nets.
Southland prep standout Tyson Chandler initially went No. 2
overall to the hometown L.A. Clippers, before being traded later on
Draft Night with Brian Skinner to Chicago for Elton Brand.
“When the Clippers chose me, I pretty much thought
I’d be there,” Chandler said upon hearing the
developments. “When I heard the Clippers picked me at two, I
was excited. But now that I’m with the Bulls, I’m even
more excited.”
Other local college products chosen were Pepperdine guard
Brandon Armstrong at No. 23 and USC forward Brian Scalabrine at No.
35 to New Jersey. Trojan guard Jeff Trepagnier followed Scalabrine
at No. 36 to Cleveland.
Watson reported to Seattle last Thursday after watching the
draft at home in Kansas City. Head coach Nate McMillan’s
starting backcourt is somewhat in disarray at the moment, with
Payton possibly on his way out via a trade and free agent Shammond
Williams hearing offers; Seattle only lists veteran David Wingate,
Brent Barry and Emanuel Davis as guards for next season.
