The Untold Tragedy of Slick Watts: Beyond the NBA Legend

Donald “Slick” Watts’s story is one of resilience, determination, and quiet heroism.

Born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, on July 22, 1951, Watts was never expected to reach the NBA.

His nickname “Slick” originated from a childhood head injury that forced him to shave his head bald—a look that made him instantly recognizable but was unusual at the time.

After starting his college basketball career at Grand View Junior College, Watts transferred to Xavier University of Louisiana in 1970, where he blossomed into a star player.

Under coach Bob Hopkins, he set school records for points and assists, earning NIA All-America honors.

Despite these achievements, the 1973 NBA draft passed without his name being called—a crushing blow for any aspiring professional.

Yet, Watts refused to give up.

Thanks to a connection through his college coach to NBA legend Bill Russell, then coaching the Seattle SuperSonics, Watts earned a tryout.

Although Russell was initially unimpressed, Watts quickly proved his worth.

In his rookie season (1973-74), he led the team with 5.7 assists per game and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting, helping Seattle reach its first-ever playoff appearance the following year.

The 1975-76 season marked the peak of Watts’s career.

He signed a three-year contract and became a full-time starter, making NBA history as the first player to lead the league in both assists (8.1 per game) and steals (3.2 per game) in the same season.

His defensive prowess earned him a spot on the NBA All-Defensive First Team, the first SuperSonics player to receive this honor.

Watts’s impact extended beyond statistics.

He won the Jay Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for outstanding community service in 1976, a rare recognition at a time when athletes’ charitable efforts were rarely publicized.

His distinctive bald head and tilted headband became iconic, and kids would run up to him for good luck.

Sports Illustrated even called him the most popular athlete ever to perform in Washington state.

However, success in professional sports can be fleeting.

The 1977-78 season brought turmoil when Bob Hopkins became Seattle’s head coach but was soon replaced by Lenny Wilkins.

Watts and Wilkins clashed over playing styles—Watts was a fast, improvisational guard, while Wilkins preferred controlled, disciplined play.

This friction led to Watts being benched and eventually traded to the New Orleans Jazz midseason.

Injuries soon took their toll, and after a final stint with the Houston Rockets, Watts retired from the NBA at just 28 years old.

The same injuries that ended his career would haunt him for decades.

He missed out on Seattle’s 1979 NBA championship, a title his efforts helped build but he could not partake in.

Rather than retreating from the city, Watts made Seattle his home and dedicated himself to serving others.

He became a physical education teacher in the Seattle school district for nearly 20 years, working at elementary schools such as Dearborn Park, High Point, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Despite a modest salary, Watts found profound fulfillment in shaping young lives.

He also co-founded the Watts Basketball Academy with his son Donald, mentoring youth and teaching lessons of perseverance.

His popularity endured, as he was selected to the SuperSonics 40th anniversary team and remained a beloved figure in Seattle’s basketball community.

Local artists even immortalized him in song, cementing his cultural influence beyond the hardwood.

Behind the scenes, however, Watts faced a private health battle few knew about.

In 2001, he was hospitalized for 22 days with sarcoidosis, a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the lungs.

This condition marked the beginning of decades of declining health.

In April 2021, just shy of his 70th birthday, Watts suffered a major stroke that left him requiring near full-time care.

His son Donald Jr. became his primary caregiver, witnessing his father’s gradual decline.

The man once known for his speed and energy was now dependent on others for basic needs.

Despite these challenges, Watts battled to maintain dignity and quality of life for nearly four years until his passing on March 15, 2025.

His family’s statement reflected both heartbreak and gratitude.

Donald Jr. said, “I cannot be sorry for my loss. I’m grateful for the time that we had… the community that I grew up in was a result of the man that he is.”

The outpouring of tributes revealed the depth of Watts’s impact.

The Seattle Storm called him a “Sonics icon and beloved community member.”

Former teammate Fred “Downtown Freddy” Brown remembered him as a “true man who believed in people.”

Seattle’s mayor praised his “hustle, heart, and tenacity,” while former NBA player Spencer Haw acknowledged his community contributions.

A memorial service in Seattle drew massive attendance, underscoring the city’s love for Watts before his remains were returned to Mississippi for burial.

His grandson Isaiah, now a college basketball player, posted a heartfelt tribute, connecting the family’s basketball legacy across generations.

What makes Watts’s story so compelling is how he transformed adversity into service.

From being undrafted to becoming an NBA pioneer, from career-ending injuries to decades of teaching, and from battling chronic illness to maintaining community ties, Watts embodied perseverance and authenticity.

While the media often focused on his basketball feats, the real legacy was his unwavering commitment to others, even as his own body failed him.

He was a man who never gave up, never stopped caring, and never ceased to serve.

Slick Watts’s life reminds us that true greatness extends beyond trophies and stats.

It lies in the resilience to face hardship with grace and the courage to uplift others along the way.