The highly anticipated NBA Draft finished with the recent conclusion of its second round. All eyes were on Bronny James, son of All-Time highest scorer LeBron James, who was eventually selected as the 55th overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers. However, right before his name was called, it was time for the recent NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, to make their pick. The franchise decided to place their faith in 23-year-old Anton Watson.

Serving in the power forward/small forward position, the 6-foot-8 player marks his entry into the NBA after devoting over five years of his career to college basketball. Known for his skills as an on-ball defender who can prevent players in any position from getting the better of him, Celtics general manager Brad Stevens proclaimed the pick as a “winning player.” Let us dive into who this 23-year-old latest entry in the NBA is.

Who is Anton Watson?

Early Life

Anton Watson was reportedly born on the 7th of November, 2000, in Spokane, Washington. He would have developed an affinity for basketball early as his family had a sporting background. Watson’s father, Deon Sr., played the ball sport for four years at the University of Idaho before moving to different leagues in Europe and South America. His career rebounds record (877) with the Idaho Vandals remains unbeatable. Watson’s elder sibling, Deon Jr. represented the University of Idaho as a football quarterback and defensive back, while his sister Haile played volleyball for Fresno State and Eastern Washington.

Watson’s basketball affinity came to prominence while he was at the Gonzaga Preparatory School. He was the MVP during his sophomore for averaging an astonishing 19 points per game. His average stats increased during his junior year, as he went up to 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Due to his family’s history with those universities, Watson reportedly looked into Idaho, Washington, and Washington State for college. In the end, however, he decided to stay in the confines of his hometown and attended Gonzaga University.

College Stats

After making his college basketball debut in November 2019, the power forward carved out a path that would bring him commendable success over five seasons. His performance during the first season wasn’t that impressive. He only averaged 4.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists throughout 15 games. Watson missed over 50% of the games that year because of a season-ending shoulder surgery.

With time, however, the player’s performance saw a rise. His high point came during his final season with Gonzaga, when he averaged 14.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists for 35 games. Along with shooting 57.8% from the floor, he also recorded a field goal percentage of 41.2% and a free throw percentage of 65.3%. Watson finished his five-year college career by recording the second-highest steals in the university’s history (215). The top record was established over four decades ago by NBA legend John Stockton.

Partnership/endorsement deals

Watson’s records during his college tenure allowed him to generate significant attention from renowned brands even before entering the NBA. According to reports, the player signed endorsement deals with Seven1 Sports & Entertainment and Community Cancer Fund. He also appeared in commercials for Pint House Burgers & Brews, Papa Murphy’s, Northern Quest Casino & Resort, and Northwest Speciality Hospital.

Watson’s work outside the basketball court allowed him to have a NIL Deal, the collective valuation of which reached $16,500.

Brad Stevens expresses confidence in Anton Watson

Being selected as the 54th overall pick, Anton Watson is not expected to receive a high-paying rookie deal. Despite this, he has got the chance to represent the franchise that has not only won the most recent NBA season but also possesses the record of the most championship wins in NBA history.

During a recent presser, Boston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens complimented the player’s strength and “ability to move his feet laterally.” From what he has observed, Stevens reckons the 23-year-old is a strong, hybrid forward who can efficiently play both offense and defense.

“I want him to come in here with the mindset that he’s going to 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, I’m looking forward to getting him in here in eight days or so,” Stevens said.

There was a good chance that Anton Watson would have gone undrafted. According to the mock draft report of NBADraft.net, the player was listed as the 67th best amongst 100 players. At the same time, Bronny James was ranked 47th. A report from ‘The Athletic’ placed Watson at the 64th position. However, the 23-year-old can now proudly call himself a member of the Boston Celtics roster. Fans will wait in anticipation to see just how far he goes.

Before leaving, check out some insights that Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, shared about the Lakers legend’s infamous feud with the late Kobe Bryant.