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Slick Watts
Donald Earl "Slick" Watts (July 22, 1951 – March 15, 2025) was an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Playing with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1976, he became the first player to lead the league in both assists and steals. He remained a favorite of Sonics fans after his basketball career.
Watts was born on July 22, 1951, in Rolling Fork, Mississippi. His father was a mechanic and his mother was a teacher. When Watts was 13, a football injury damaged his scalp, causing his hair to grow in unusual patches. This led him to shave his head.
Watts attended Grand View Junior College before transferring to Xavier University of Louisiana in 1970, where he played college basketball for three years under coach Bob Hopkins, and alongside future NBA player Bruce Seals.
For the 1971–72 season, Watts and Seals led the Gold Rush to its first NAIA District 30 Men's Basketball championship, defeating Nicholls State 85–83, before losing to Westmont in the 1972 NAIA basketball tournament semi-finals 71–59.
During his final season, Watts led the Gold Rush to their second consecutive NAIA District 30 Championship, defeating Dillard 101–80. In the 1973 NAIA basketball tournament Watts and his teammates upset Sam Houston State, 67–60, in the second round. At the time, the Bearkats were ranked first in the country in all college division polls and had gone 34 games, over a two-year period, without a loss. Xavier eventually lost in the semi-finals to Maryland-Eastern Shore 87–80.
Watts was not selected in the 1973 NBA draft, though he was chosen by the Memphis Tams in the second round of the 1973 ABA supplemental draft. However, Watts' college coach at Xavier University, Bob Hopkins, was a cousin of NBA legend Bill Russell, who at the time was the coach and general manager for the Seattle SuperSonics. Russell gave Watts a tryout and signed him as a rookie free agent.
Despite coming off the bench, Watts led the Sonics in assists per game (5.7) as a rookie in 1973–74. His playing time increased the next season, as Watts led the franchise to its first playoff berth. On February 21, 1975, Watts recorded his first career triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, while adding four steals, in a 110–108 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Two days later, Watts recorded a career-high nine steals, while also scoring 13 points and adding 14 assists, during a 114–100 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
After signing a three-year, $100,000 contract, Watts became a starter for the 1975–76 season, and would go on to lead the NBA in total assists, assists per game, total steals, and steals per game, while making the NBA All-Defensive First Team. He was the first player to lead the NBA in assists and steals in the same season. In 1976, Watts' energetic playing style, unique look, and rapport with the fans led Sports Illustrated to call him "the most popular athlete ever to perform in the state of Washington". He also received the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for his outstanding service to the community. Watts followed with another productive year in the 1976–77 season, averaging 8.0 assists and 2.7 steals per game.
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Slick Watts
Donald Earl "Slick" Watts (July 22, 1951 – March 15, 2025) was an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Playing with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1976, he became the first player to lead the league in both assists and steals. He remained a favorite of Sonics fans after his basketball career.
Watts was born on July 22, 1951, in Rolling Fork, Mississippi. His father was a mechanic and his mother was a teacher. When Watts was 13, a football injury damaged his scalp, causing his hair to grow in unusual patches. This led him to shave his head.
Watts attended Grand View Junior College before transferring to Xavier University of Louisiana in 1970, where he played college basketball for three years under coach Bob Hopkins, and alongside future NBA player Bruce Seals.
For the 1971–72 season, Watts and Seals led the Gold Rush to its first NAIA District 30 Men's Basketball championship, defeating Nicholls State 85–83, before losing to Westmont in the 1972 NAIA basketball tournament semi-finals 71–59.
During his final season, Watts led the Gold Rush to their second consecutive NAIA District 30 Championship, defeating Dillard 101–80. In the 1973 NAIA basketball tournament Watts and his teammates upset Sam Houston State, 67–60, in the second round. At the time, the Bearkats were ranked first in the country in all college division polls and had gone 34 games, over a two-year period, without a loss. Xavier eventually lost in the semi-finals to Maryland-Eastern Shore 87–80.
Watts was not selected in the 1973 NBA draft, though he was chosen by the Memphis Tams in the second round of the 1973 ABA supplemental draft. However, Watts' college coach at Xavier University, Bob Hopkins, was a cousin of NBA legend Bill Russell, who at the time was the coach and general manager for the Seattle SuperSonics. Russell gave Watts a tryout and signed him as a rookie free agent.
Despite coming off the bench, Watts led the Sonics in assists per game (5.7) as a rookie in 1973–74. His playing time increased the next season, as Watts led the franchise to its first playoff berth. On February 21, 1975, Watts recorded his first career triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, while adding four steals, in a 110–108 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Two days later, Watts recorded a career-high nine steals, while also scoring 13 points and adding 14 assists, during a 114–100 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
After signing a three-year, $100,000 contract, Watts became a starter for the 1975–76 season, and would go on to lead the NBA in total assists, assists per game, total steals, and steals per game, while making the NBA All-Defensive First Team. He was the first player to lead the NBA in assists and steals in the same season. In 1976, Watts' energetic playing style, unique look, and rapport with the fans led Sports Illustrated to call him "the most popular athlete ever to perform in the state of Washington". He also received the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for his outstanding service to the community. Watts followed with another productive year in the 1976–77 season, averaging 8.0 assists and 2.7 steals per game.