Slick Watts was a fan-favorite basketball player of the 1970s best known for his tenure with the Seattle SuperSonics, his skills on the court, and his distinctive headbands.
- Died: March 15, 2025 (Who else died on March 15?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 73.
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Slick Watts’ legacy
Point guard Donald Earl Watts is better known by his court name, Slick Watts, and that name is the stuff of legend for Seattle SuperSonics fans, who adored the 1970s basketball star for his skillful play, distinctive headbands, and warm personality.
Mississippi-born Watts was a star athlete at Xavier University of Louisiana, where he and future NBA player Bruce Seals (1953–2020) led the Gold Rush to two consecutive NAIA District 30 Men’s Basketball championships. When Watts was passed over in the 1973 NBA draft, his former coach, Bob Hopkins (1953–2015), urged then-Sonics coach and general manager Bill Russell (1934–2022), his cousin, to give him a tryout. Watts was brought on board as a free agent.
He began his career as a reserve, but early in 1975, he earned his first triple-double, upped his game, and played his way into the starting squad. In ‘75-’76, Watts became the first NBA player to lead the league in both steals and assists in the same season. He made the NBA All-Defensive First Team and established himself as a fan favorite. He played with the Sonics into the 1977-’78 season, finishing out his career with the New Orleans Jazz and Houston Rockets before retiring in 1979.
Watts’ nickname was thanks to his baldness, a rarity in the NBA at the time. A high school football accident damaged his scalp and caused his hair to grow in patches, prompting him to shave his head and develop his distinctive look. It was enhanced by his prominent use of headbands worn askew, which made Watts one of the league’s most recognizable players.
Watts remained a treasured figure in Seattle long after his basketball career ended. He taught P.E. for years at area elementary schools and coached basketball at Franklin High School. He retired in 2017 after almost 20 years teaching at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary (formerly named Brighton Elementary). In 2011, he was immortalized in song by Seattle rap duo Blue Scholars and their track, “Slick Watts.”
Watts was named to the Sonics’ 40th anniversary team, and in 1976 he earned the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, an NBA award given to players, coaches, and staff who have shown service and dedication to their community.
Tributes to Slick Watts
Full obituary: The Seattle Times
