Lakers guard Lonzo Ball endorses former Bruin, NBA coach Earl Watson for UCLA basketball coach

As UCLA continues to search for its next men's basketball coach, Los Angeles Lakers point guard — and former Bruin — Lonzo Ball said Wednesday he has one prominent name in mind.

"I'd like to see, maybe, Earl Watson get the job," Ball told reporters.

Watson, who was fired as coach of the Phoenix Suns in October, was a four-year starter at UCLA before playing 13 seasons in the NBA. He is one of several notable candidates to be linked to the Bruins' vacancy since they fired Steve Alford on Monday after five-plus seasons.

"Obviously he went there, he's alumni, so I think he's a good fit," Ball said of Watson. "He knows how to get to the league, how to stay in the league. He coached in the league. I think he's the best for the job."

Watson has not publicly indicated that he has interest in the UCLA job, but he said in March 2017 that the school is an "amazing place" and had a lasting effect on him and his career.

"There's no doubt that I love my school," Watson said, according to ESPN. "It took me out of a poverty situation and gave me hope. ... I feel like it saved me."

While Ball went out of his way to stump for Watson on Wednesday, another prominent point guard who played for the Bruins, Russell Westbrook, wasn't nearly as committal. A reporter asked Westbrook if he had a preference for the hire given that he has donated to the university.

"It ain’t up to me, champ," Westbrook told reporters. "It ain’t up to me, man. I ain’t that big of a damn donor."

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.