SEATTLE -- Donald “Slick” Watts, the former Seattle SuperSonics point guard and NBA fan favorite, has died. He was 73.
Watts’ death was announced by his son, Donald, on social media on Saturday. No cause of death was shared, though Watts had been battling health issues since suffering a stroke in 2021, according to reports.
“You did so much for so many of us. It was an honor to call you pops,” he wrote in a post to X.
A former standout at Xavier University of Louisiana, Watts played six seasons in the NBA from 1973-79 for the SuperSonics, New Orleans Jazz and Houston Rockets. He signed with the SuperSonics as an undrafted free agent in 1973, playing under head coach and Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell.
Watts became a fan favorite in Seattle’s sports scene due to his infectious smile, bald head and signature crooked headband. He decided to shave his head entirely as a football injury at age 13 damaged his scalp and caused his hair to grow in patches, The Seattle Times reports. He finished third in NBA Rookie of the Year voting in 1973-74, and two years later led the NBA in both assists (8.1 per game) and steals (3.2) while being named to the First Team All-Defensive team.
After four-plus seasons with Seattle, Watts was traded to the Jazz in January 1978. The following season, Watts’ final in the NBA, he played for the Rocketshhhh.
For his six-year NBA career, Watts averaged 10.1 points, 6.7 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals in 437 games
Following his playing career, Watts was active in the Seattle community as a physical education teacher at local school districts. He became ubiquitous at Seattle community events, games and fundraisers. In 2011, The Blue Scholars, a local hip-hop group, named a song after Watts – “Slick Watts” -- in honor of his commitment to Seattle. He was also named to the SuperSonics’ 40th anniversary team in 2007 before the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City the following year.
“He was always so giving and grateful to the community. He was a Seattle guy, a Seattle area guy,” former SuperSonics teammate Jack Sikma told The Seattle Times. “Always pleasant, always helpful and he lived his life well. (I’m) sorry to see him go. We’ll miss him, but he did good.”