Editing Slick Watts (section)

==NBA career==
Watts was not selected in the [[1973 NBA draft]], though he was chosen by the [[Memphis Sounds|Memphis Tams]] in the second round of the [[American_Basketball_Association_draft#1973_ABA_supplemental_draft|1973 ABA supplemental draft]].<ref name=cbs>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/former-sonics-guard-seattle-fan-favorite-slick-watts-dies-at-73/|title=Former Sonics guard, Seattle fan favorite Slick Watts dies at 73
|work=CBS Sports|date=March 16, 2025|first=Sam|last=Quinn}}</ref> However, Watts' college coach at [[Xavier University of Louisiana|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]].<ref name=obit/> Russell gave Watts a tryout and signed him as a rookie free agent.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 1, 1973 |title=Donald "Slick" Watts Makes Sonics Roster |pages=6 |work=Xavier Herald Newspaper |url=https://xula.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16948coll14/id/4553 |access-date=July 14, 2022}}</ref>

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.<ref name="traub_03162025" /> On February 21, 1975, Watts recorded his first career [[triple-double]] with 12 points, 10 [[rebound (basketball)|rebounds]], and 11 [[assist (basketball)|assists]], while adding four [[steal (basketball)|steals]], in a 110–108 win over the [[Atlanta Hawks]].<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask?q=slick+watts+first+triple-double | title= Slick Watts First Career Triple Double| website= statmuse.com| publisher= | date= | access-date= }}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/slick-watts-career-high-steals |title= Slick Watts Career High 9 Steals| website= statmuse.com| publisher= | date= | access-date= }}</ref> 

After signing a three-year, $100,000 contract, Watts became a starter for the 1975–76 season,<ref>{{cite news|title=Watts Is Too Slick To Stay On SuperSonics' Bench Long|work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|agency=Associated Press|date=March 4, 1976|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FwAkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JmcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4754,1329770|access-date=April 19, 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref name="br" /><ref name=cbs/> 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".<ref name= nifty>{{Cite magazine|first=John|last=Papanek|date=February 23, 1976 |title=Slick's His Name—And His Game: Seattle's nifty guard would be a shoo-in in a popularity contest, too |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1976/02/23/slicks-his-nameand-his-game |url-status=live |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> He also received the [[J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award]] for his outstanding service to the community.<ref name="youngest">{{cite news|last=Vescey|first=George|title=Sports Of The Times; The Youngest Old-Timer|work= The New York Times|date=February 8, 1987|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/02/08/sports/sports-of-the-times-the-youngest-old-timer.html|access-date=April 19, 2010}}</ref>  Watts followed with another productive year in the 1976–77 season, averaging 8.0 assists and 2.7 steals per game.<ref name="br"/>

At the start of the 1977–78 season, Watts was re-united with Hopkins, who was hired as the Sonics' new head coach. But Hopkins was fired after a 5–17 start, and new coach [[Lenny Wilkens]] made some lineup changes, one of which was to replace Watts with [[Dennis Johnson]]. Watts was eventually traded mid-season to the [[New Orleans Jazz (NBA team)|New Orleans Jazz]] for a first-round draft pick.<ref name=traub_03162025>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/16/obituaries/slick-watts-dead.html|title=Slick Watts, N.B.A. Fan Favorite and Headband Pioneer, Dies at 73|work=The New York Times|date=March 16, 2025|first=Alex|last=Traub}}</ref>

Watts did not play again in the NBA after the 1978–79 season. He played {{frac|4|1|2}} years with the Sonics, half a season with the [[New Orleans Jazz (NBA team)|New Orleans Jazz]], and one season with the [[Houston Rockets]].<ref name="br"/>

In December 1980, Watts joined the [[Anchorage Northern Knights]] of the [[Continental Basketball Association]] (CBA) with the intent of making it back to the NBA.<ref>{{cite news |title=Slick Watts tries basketball return |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-oregonian-slick-watts-tries-b/170788904/ |access-date=April 21, 2025 |work=The Sunday Oregonian |date=December 14, 1980 |page=123 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He averaged 2.3 points and 2.7 assists in 7 games played.<ref>{{cite web |title=Slick Watts minor league basketball statistics |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbasketball/stats/p-wattssli001 |website=Stats Crew |access-date=April 21, 2025}}</ref> Watts departed the team without notice in January 1981 which caused the CBA to issue a release titled "Has Anyone Seen Slick Watts" that urged anyone who saw Watts to inform him that he had been waived.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Landen |first1=Bill |title=Bradley, Cowboys attracting big-time attention |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune-bradley-cowboys-att/170789182/ |access-date=April 21, 2025 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |date=January 14, 1981 |page=9 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Northern Knights head coach [[Bill Klucas]] commented after Watts' departure: "Slick couldn't play a lick."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Greenberg |first1=Don |title=Doin' the Continental |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-doin-the-continental/170789342/ |access-date=April 21, 2025 |work=Daily News |date=January 30, 1981 |page=146 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

He gained the nickname "Slick" because he was one of the first players to shave his head, unusual at the time.<ref name= traub_03162025/>  In 1974, ''[[The News Tribune]]'' wrote, "In this day of long hair, Watts is a very unusual person".<ref name= traub_03162025/> He was also known for wearing his headband off-center.<ref name="nba obit">{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/news/sonics-legend-slick-watts-passes-away|title=Former Sonic and Seattle fixture Donald 'Slick' Watts passes away at 73|work=NBA.com|date=March 15, 2025}}</ref>