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For many players in the NBA, the end of the season means a six-month layoff until the opening of training camps in September.

For players like Earl Watson, longer days and shorter nights mean more time to practice. The second season is as important as the first, if not more.

“A typical day in my summer, I usually work out from 9 to 11,” he said. “Basketball drills from about 1 to 3 … About 4 to 6, I play pick-up (games) with the pros. And after that, I shoot only for an hour. And that’s basically my summer day.”

It has been nearly three years since his name was called on Draft Day 2001, the 40th overall pick by the Seattle Supersonics. That year, he played in 64 games, averaging a little more than 15 minutes a game coming off the bench.

At the completion of the 2001-2002 season, Watson became a free agent after having only inked a one-year deal with the Sonics. On Aug. 6, 2002, the Memphis Grizzlies came knocking, and the former Bruin guard was quick to answer. A big reason was that Jerry West, who Watson admired while at UCLA, had become the new general manager of the team that summer.

“The only reason I’m here is because of Jerry West,” Watson said. “That’s why I came to Memphis, because I respected him. I met him at UCLA, and I’ve always been a fan of his.”

Watson played 79 games his first season on the Grizzlies, averaging 5.5 points per contest behind starting point guard Jason Williams.

This past season, Watson played in all but one game and started a career-high 12 games after Williams went down with an injury. He averaged about six points and 4.8 assists per game in about 20 minutes per contest.

Second-year coach Hubie Brown has certainly noticed the dedication and work ethic.

“Earl had a fine season,” Brown said. “He’s a very hard worker. He’s the first guy to the gym and the last guy out of the gym. Williams gets injured, we put him in the starting lineup, we go 8-2, beat New Jersey twice. (Watson) places Jason Kidd to a stand-still both games.”

Watson’s teammates have also noticed what he brings to the Grizzlies.

“He’s a very good point guard, knows how to run the team, slow the game down, speed the game up,” Grizzlies center Lorenzen Wright said. “He’s a winner.”

The background for any of Watson’s pro success was his time in the blue and gold. He averaged 11.2 points, 4.7 assists, 3.8 rebounds and just under two steals per game, while being only the 13th four-year starter in the program’s history. In 2000 and 2001 he was a co-winner of the Coach John Wooden Award for the team’s most valuable player.

“I used Coach Wooden a lot, just to talk to him ... ask him a lot of questions,” Watson said. “(He’s) a guy who I really respect. … That was one of the biggest reasons why I went (to UCLA) … just because of him and what he has done for basketball period.”

Playing four years on the Pauley hardwood in front of the ever-present Wooden molded Watson into the tough, gritty player that he is today.

“Just to be a part of the four letters means more than anything,” he said.

The opportunity to carry on the tradition at Westwood on one of college basketball’s biggest stages meant more to him than even the NBA. It gave him a chance to extend a legacy.

“The only thing that’s defined my career was making the decision to go to UCLA, because that has exposed me to many great talents, whether it’s in the classroom or on the basketball court,” Watson said. “The NBA is not as good as the UCLA experience, anyone will tell you that. … UCLA is such a great university that it prepared me for life.”

When asked to recall his greatest experience in Westwood, Watson paused to think. But mention of a 108-107 overtime victory helped stimulate his memory.

“Beating ’SC every time,” he said on his way out, having put in yet another night’s work.