Donald “Slick” Watts, who was one of Seattle’s most beloved athletes during his time with the SuperSonics, died Saturday morning at age 73, writes Tim Booth of The Seattle Times.
The 6’1″ point guard was known for his distinctive look with his shaved head and headbands, as well as his freewheeling approach to the game. After signing with the team in 1973, Watts finished third in the Rookie of the Year race. His best season was in 1975/76 when he averaged 13.0 points per game in 82 outings while leading the NBA in assists (8.1) and steals (3.2) per game.
More than anything, he was a favorite with the Seattle fanbase.
“Slick, out of all the players, Slick was Seattle. That was his thing was Seattle,” Hall of Famer Spencer Haywood told Booth.
Watts spent four full years with the Sonics before being traded to New Orleans midway through the 1977/78 season and finishing up his career with Houston in 1978/79. He appeared in 437 games during his six NBA seasons and compiled career averages of 8.9 points and 6.1 assists per night.
Watts suffered a major stroke in 2021 and needed nearly constant care, Booth adds. Many of his former teammates learned about his death while they were preparing to attend a celebration to remember another Sonics great, Gus Williams, who passed away in January.
“He always wore his green and gold proudly,” former Sonics center James Donaldson said of Watts. “He epitomized the Seattle SuperSonics.”
After playing at Xavier University of Louisiana, Watts got a tryout because his college coach, Bob Hopkins, was the cousin of NBA legend Bill Russell, who was Seattle’s coach at the time. He was able to earn a roster spot as an undrafted rookie and was eventually named to the Sonics’ 40th anniversary team.
“He was such a personality. Always upbeat,” Donaldson added. “Always happy to lend a helping hand, to give you words of encouragement, to befriend just about anybody he came across.”
We at Hoops Rumors offer our condolences to Watts’ family and friends.