Slick Watts made history in the NBA while keeping his life with his wife and family mostly private.
Highlights
- Slick Watts made a significant impact on the NBA, becoming the first player in league history to lead in both assists and steals during the 1975-76 season.
- Despite his high-profile career, Slick kept his family life private. He was a dedicated father to his son, Donald Jr., who pursued basketball, and he maintained close family bonds, with his legacy carried on by his grandson, Isaiah, who plays at Washington State University.
- After retiring from basketball, Watts focused on teaching and mentoring young athletes in Seattle, leaving a lasting influence on the community through his work with youth and his family’s basketball training business.
Donald Earl “Slick” Watts made an indelible mark on basketball history during his time in the NBA.
Born on July 22, 1951, in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, Watts rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most recognizable figures in Seattle sports.
His journey began at Grand View Junior College before transferring to Xavier University of Louisiana in 1970.
Under coach Bob Hopkins, Watts and teammate Bruce Seals led the Gold Rush to consecutive NAIA District 30 Championships in 1972 and 1973.
Despite going undrafted in the 1973 NBA draft, Watts caught a lucky break when his former coach, Bob Hopkins, a cousin of Seattle SuperSonics coach Bill Russell, arranged a tryout.
Russell was immediately impressed, noting that
“Watts was the best-looking guard in camp and oftentimes embarrassed the other players.”
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This opportunity led to Watts signing with the SuperSonics as a rookie free agent.
Watts quickly established himself as a standout player. During the 1975-76 season, he made NBA history by becoming the first player to lead the league in both assists and steals in the same season.
His defensive prowess earned him a spot on the NBA All-Defense First-Team, and his community service was recognized with the prestigious J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.
Known for his signature bald head (unusual at the time) and off-center headband, Watts played 4½ years with the Sonics before being traded to the New Orleans Jazz.
He finished his NBA career with the Houston Rockets, retiring after the 1978-79 season due to injury.
After basketball, Watts dedicated himself to education and youth development in Seattle.
He spent nearly 20 years teaching physical education at various schools, including Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, before retiring in 2017.
In April 2021, Watts suffered a major stroke that severely impacted his health, requiring full-time care until his death on March 15, 2025, at the age of 73.
A Hidden Family Life Focused on Fatherhood and a Basketball Legacy
Unlike his well-documented basketball career, Slick Watts maintained a relatively private family life throughout his years in the public eye.
Available information about his marriage and romantic relationships remains notably limited, as Watts preferred to keep this aspect of his life away from media scrutiny.
What we do know centers primarily around his role as a father rather than as a husband.
Slick had a son, Donald Watts Jr., who followed in his father’s footsteps by pursuing basketball at a competitive level.
Donald Jr. played basketball at the University of Washington, demonstrating that the athletic talent ran in the family.
However, chronic fatigue syndrome ultimately prevented the younger Watts from reaching the NBA like his father.
The identity of Donald Jr.’s mother—whether she was Slick’s wife, long-term partner, or had another relationship with him—is not clearly documented in public records.
Despite the extensive coverage of Watts’ professional accomplishments and community service, details about his marriage status, wedding date, or the name of his partner remain conspicuously absent from mainstream reporting.
Father and son maintained a close relationship throughout Slick’s life, eventually co-founding Watts Basketball, a coaching and training business that served thousands of young athletes in the Seattle community.
This venture allowed them to share their basketball knowledge while strengthening their family bond through a shared passion.
The family legacy extends to a third generation, as Slick’s grandson, Isaiah Watts, continues the family’s basketball tradition by playing for Washington State University.
After his grandfather’s passing, Isaiah posted a touching tribute saying,
“I pray every time they see me they see you. Love you past life. I got us forever. Rest in paradise papa.”
NBA
This heartfelt message suggests a close-knit family that valued their relationships despite keeping them private.
In his later years, particularly after suffering a devastating stroke in April 2021, Slick relied heavily on his family for support and care.
His son Donald became his full-time caretaker, demonstrating the strength of their family bonds.
Donald’s children, Jadyn and Isaiah (both high school seniors at the time of Slick’s stroke), also stepped up to help with their grandfather’s care while pursuing their own basketball aspirations.
Small glimpses into Slick’s personal side occasionally emerged, such as his fondness for singing love songs like Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are” or Bonnie Raitt’s “Love Letter” at his favorite Seattle bar, the Doghouse.
These anecdotes hint at a romantic and sentimental nature that he mostly kept private.
Throughout his life, Slick Watts prioritized his role as a mentor, teacher, and community figure.
He understood “how much the short, simple shots matter, in both basketball and life,” a philosophy that likely extended to his approach to family relationships.
While his marriage and romantic history remain largely unknown to the public, the evident strength of his family unit—spanning three generations of basketball players—suggests a foundation of stability, support, and shared values.
When Slick passed away on March 15, 2025, he left behind not just a basketball legacy but a family that continues to honor his memory through their ongoing commitment to the sport and the Seattle community he loved so deeply.
Additional Information
- He worked as a physical education teacher for nearly two decades and coached basketball at Franklin High School in Seattle.
- He also battled a major health scare in 2001 with sarcoidosis, causing him to lose almost 50 pounds, but he eventually recovered.
- Slick Watts recorded his first career triple-double on February 21, 1975, with 12 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, and 4 steals in a victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Just two days later, he set a career-high with 9 steals in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
