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Slick Watts

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Slick Watts

Donald Earl "Slick" Watts (July 22, 1951 – March 15, 2025) was an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Playing with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1976, he became the first player to lead the league in both assists and steals. He remained a favorite of Sonics fans after his basketball career.

Infobox

1978
New Orleans Jazz
Born
(1951-07-22)July 22, 1951Rolling Fork, Mississippi, U.S.
Died
March 15, 2025(2025-03-15) (aged 73)
Listed height
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight
175 lb (79 kg)
High school
Henry Weather(Rolling Fork, Mississippi)
College
Grand View (1969–1970) Xavier (Louisiana) (1970–1973)
NBA draft
1973: undrafted
Playing career
1973–1981
Position
Point guard
Number
13, 14, 00
1973–1978
Seattle SuperSonics
1978–1979
Houston Rockets
1980–1981
Anchorage Northern Knights
Points
3,901 (8.9 ppg)
Rebounds
1,398 (3.2 rpg)
Assists
2,678 (6.1 apg)

Tables

· NBA career statistics › Regular season
1973–74
1973–74
Year
1973–74
Team
Seattle
GP
62
GS
MPG
23.0
FG%
388
3P%
FT%
645
RPG
2.9
APG
5.7
SPG
1.9
BPG
0.2
PPG
8.0
1974–75
1974–75
Year
1974–75
Team
Seattle
GP
82
GS
MPG
25.1
FG%
421
3P%
FT%
608
RPG
3.2
APG
6.1
SPG
2.3
BPG
0.1
PPG
6.8
1975–76
1975–76
Year
1975–76
Team
Seattle
GP
82
GS
MPG
33.9
FG%
427
3P%
FT%
578
RPG
4.5
APG
8.1*
SPG
3.2*
BPG
0.2
PPG
13.0
1976–77
1976–77
Year
1976–77
Team
Seattle
GP
79
GS
MPG
33.3
FG%
422
3P%
FT%
587
RPG
3.9
APG
8.0
SPG
2.7
BPG
0.3
PPG
13.0
1977–78
1977–78
Year
1977–78
Team
Seattle
GP
32
GS
MPG
25.3
FG%
404
3P%
FT%
566
RPG
2.5
APG
4.2
SPG
1.7
BPG
0.4
PPG
7.8
1977–78
1977–78
Year
1977–78
Team
New Orleans
GP
39
GS
MPG
19.9
FG%
381
3P%
FT%
602
RPG
2.5
APG
4.1
SPG
1.4
BPG
0.4
PPG
7.2
1978–79
1978–79
Year
1978–79
Team
Houston
GP
61
GS
MPG
17.1
FG%
405
3P%
FT%
612
RPG
1.7
APG
4.0
SPG
1.2
BPG
0.2
PPG
3.7
Career
Career
Year
Career
Team
437
GP
GS
26.3
MPG
413
FG%
3P%
597
FT%
3.2
RPG
6.1
APG
2.2
SPG
0.3
BPG
8.9
Year
Team
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
3P%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
1973–74
Seattle
62
23.0
388
645
2.9
5.7
1.9
0.2
8.0
1974–75
Seattle
82
25.1
421
608
3.2
6.1
2.3
0.1
6.8
1975–76
Seattle
82
33.9
427
578
4.5
8.1*
3.2*
0.2
13.0
1976–77
Seattle
79
33.3
422
587
3.9
8.0
2.7
0.3
13.0
1977–78
Seattle
32
25.3
404
566
2.5
4.2
1.7
0.4
7.8
1977–78
New Orleans
39
19.9
381
602
2.5
4.1
1.4
0.4
7.2
1978–79
Houston
61
17.1
405
612
1.7
4.0
1.2
0.2
3.7
Career
437
26.3
413
597
3.2
6.1
2.2
0.3
8.9
· NBA career statistics › Playoffs
1975
1975
Year
1975
Team
Seattle
GP
9
GS
MPG
31.3
FG%
462
3P%
FT%
538
RPG
3.7
APG
7.1
SPG
3.0
BPG
0.4
PPG
11.1
1976
1976
Year
1976
Team
Seattle
GP
6
GS
MPG
32.8
FG%
435
3P%
FT%
478
RPG
3.0
APG
8.2
SPG
2.0
BPG
0.3
PPG
11.8
1979
1979
Year
1979
Team
Houston
GP
2
GS
MPG
21.5
FG%
400
3P%
FT%
667
RPG
3.5
APG
3.5
SPG
2.0
BPG
0.5
PPG
7.0
Career
Career
Year
Career
Team
17
GP
GS
30.7
MPG
446
FG%
3P%
519
FT%
3.4
RPG
7.1
APG
2.5
SPG
0.4
BPG
10.9
Year
Team
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
3P%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
1975
Seattle
9
31.3
462
538
3.7
7.1
3.0
0.4
11.1
1976
Seattle
6
32.8
435
478
3.0
8.2
2.0
0.3
11.8
1979
Houston
2
21.5
400
667
3.5
3.5
2.0
0.5
7.0
Career
17
30.7
446
519
3.4
7.1
2.5
0.4
10.9

References

  1. "Slick Watts"
    https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wattssl01.html
  2. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/16/obituaries/slick-watts-dead.html
  3. The Seattle Times
    https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sonics/sonics-legend-slick-watts-dies-at-73/
  4. Xavier Herald Newspaper
    https://xula.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16948coll14/id/4429/rec/2
  5. jonfmorse.com
    http://www.jonfmorse.com/wiki/index.php?title=NAIA_District_30_Men%27s_Basketball
  6. CBS Sports
    https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/former-sonics-guard-seattle-fan-favorite-slick-watts-dies-at-73/
  7. Xavier Herald Newspaper
    https://xula.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16948coll14/id/4553
  8. statmuse.com
    https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask?q=slick+watts+first+triple-double
  9. statmuse.com
    https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/slick-watts-career-high-steals
  10. Sarasota Herald-Tribune
    https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FwAkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JmcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4754,1329770
  11. Sports Illustrated
    https://vault.si.com/vault/1976/02/23/slicks-his-nameand-his-game
  12. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1987/02/08/sports/sports-of-the-times-the-youngest-old-timer.html
  13. The Sunday Oregonian
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-oregonian-slick-watts-tries-b/170788904/
  14. Stats Crew
    https://www.statscrew.com/minorbasketball/stats/p-wattssli001
  15. Casper Star-Tribune
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune-bradley-cowboys-att/170789182/
  16. Daily News
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-doin-the-continental/170789342/
  17. NBA.com
    https://www.nba.com/news/sonics-legend-slick-watts-passes-away
  18. Tri City Herald
    https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vl0hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A4YFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4419,7592388
  19. The Seattle Times
    http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/nba/slick-watts-at-65-forever-a-sonic-famously-accessible/
  20. The Seattle Times
    https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/nba/sending-positive-thoughts-to-sonics-great-slick-watts-who-has-long-road-to-recovery-after-stroke/
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