For many NBA fans, the talk about day two of the NBA Draft will be Bronny James joining his father, LeBron James, in Los Angeles as a member of the Lakers, becoming the first father and son duo to be in the NBA at the same time.
However, the Boston Celtics did make a pick, selecting Gonzaga’s Anton Watson with the 54th overall selection.
The 6-foot-8 forward started all 35 games for the Bulldogs this season, averaging 14.5 points (second most on the team), 7.1 rebounds (second most on the team), 2.6 assists (third most on the team), and 1.5 steals (team-high). His play helped guide Gonzaga to the Sweet 16 and earned him 2024 All-Conference First Team honors.
“I really like him,” President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens said on Watson. “Anton’s strength and ability to move his feet laterally give him a chance to be one of these big, strong hybrid forwards that can switch (and) guard a lot of people.”
Here are five things you need to know about Boston’s second-round pick:
He is a highly versatile defender
Watson finished his collegiate career with the second-most steals (215) in Gonzaga program history, trailing only John Stockton, and posted the fourth-most steals in a single season in school history with 66 steals in 2022-23. Which is incredible, considering he is a forward.
Standing at 6-foot-8 and weighing 225 pounds, Watson is capable of guarding positions 1 through 5. He has the size to match up with bigs and the agility and motor to defend guards effectively.
Over his five seasons at Gonzaga, Watson posted a career defensive rating of 94.5. This past season, he also ranked in the top five in the West Coast Conference in defensive box plus/minus.
While there will naturally be an adjustment period as Watson adapts to the bigger, stronger, and faster players at the NBA level, he certainly possesses the necessary intangibles to succeed.
Another older prospect
Like Baylor Scheierman , Watson is also on the older side, as he will turn 24 years old before the season starts. He, too, was a fifth-year senior and comes with loads of experience.
Watson appeared in 151 career games (94 starts) at Gonzaga, including four Sweet 16 games, three Elite Eight games, a Final Four, and a National Championship.
“I think you’re looking at what’s available when you draft. In the first round, we all thought really highly of Baylor and were excited that he had dropped to thirty. Then, in the second round, a similar thing with Anton,” Stevens said on drafting two older prospects.
“I think that those guys, both are winning players. They’ve played in a lot of big moments and a lot of big games and big environments. They know how to play on both ends of the floor. They’ve been really well-coached. I think at these picks, when you’re not picking in the top five of the draft, you’re probably not weighing that stuff quite as strongly, right? You’re looking for the best fit, the best player, who can come in and accentuate your team and grow within your group. They’re both young enough. They can do that, too.”
Watson will likely be on a two-way contract this season. However, his experience will certainly expedite his development process.
He makes his money down low
Unlike Scheierman, who is known for his three-point shooting, Watson excels around the rim. He is a top-notch finisher, shooting 57.8% from the field in his final season at Gonzaga, ranking third in the West Coast Conference. He attempted 300 two-point shots and 51 three-pointers, converting an impressive 75.9% of his attempts at the rim.
Like his father, Deon Watson Sr., the leading career rebounder at the University of Idaho, Watson is an outstanding rebounder. He finished seventh in the West Coast Conference with a career-best 7.1 rebounds per game last season. Watson is Gonzaga’s only player to accumulate over 1,400 points, 700 rebounds, 215 steals, and 200 assists.
While it’s a limited sample size, Watson’s three-point shooting could use some improvement, as he connected on just 30.7% of his attempts from long range while averaging 1.0 attempts per game over his five seasons at Gonzaga. Last season, he shot a career-best 41.2% on a career-high 1.5 attempts. However, Stevens wants to see him jack more up.
“I want him to come in here with the mindset that he’s gonna let it fly like he’s never let it fly before because I think he’s a better shooter than he sometimes thinks he is,” Stevens said. “I’m looking forward to getting him in here. In eight days or so.”
He is a hometown kid
Watson is a Spokane native who played high school basketball for the Gonzaga Prep Bullpups. During his time there, he led the team to two state titles in his junior and senior years.
His outstanding play earned him recognition as the Associated Press and Seattle Times All-State Player of the Year in both 2018 and 2019. Watson was also named the State Tournament MVP twice and the Greater Spokane League MVP twice.
In 2021, he competed in the National Championship with his hometown team.
He is represented by Lil Wayne’s agency
Leading up to the 2024 NBA Draft, Watson joined Young Money APAA Sports, a sports agency group established by rapper Lil Wayne. The agency represents notable athletes in the NFL and NBA, including Jalen Hurts, Mecole Hardman, Issac Okoro, Quinnen Williams, and his brother Quincy Williams.
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