Anton Watson Bio
Anton Michael Watson is an American professional basketball player for the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League. He plays the power forward and small forward positions and wears jersey number 22. Watson played college basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs from 2019 to 2024 before entering the professional ranks in 2024. Standing 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) and weighing 225 lb (102 kg), he is a versatile frontcourt player known for his scoring and rebounding ability.
Born on October 6, 2000, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Watson rose to prominence as one of the top high school prospects in the Pacific Northwest. He was named Washington Mr. Basketball in 2019 and earned First-team All-WCC honors in 2024. He was selected 54th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA draft.
Early Life and Background
Anton Michael Watson was born on October 6, 2000, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He grew up in a deeply athletic family, with his father, Deon Watson Sr., having played college basketball at Idaho from 1990 to 1994. The elder Watson still holds the Vandal program record for career rebounds with 877 and went on to play professionally in Europe and South America after college. This family background gave Anton an early familiarity with the discipline and lifestyle required to pursue basketball at a high level.
Watson attended Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, Washington, where he developed into one of the most decorated high school players in the state. The family connection to the broader Pacific Northwest sports scene helped shape his development, and his older brother Deon Jr. later played college football at Idaho as a tight end and wide receiver, while his sister Haile played volleyball at Eastern Washington and Fresno State. The athletic pedigree of the Watson family left a clear mark on Anton’s path to the sport.
Path to Basketball
Watson spent four years on the basketball team at Gonzaga Preparatory School, growing into one of the top recruits in the Pacific Northwest. During his sophomore season, he averaged 19 points per game and was named the most valuable player of the Greater Spokane League. He led his team to a league championship and a third-place finish at the Washington Class 4A state tournament, establishing himself as a rising talent in regional basketball circles.
As a junior, Watson averaged 23 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists per game while leading Gonzaga Prep to the Class 4A state title and earning tournament MVP honors. He was selected to the USA Today All-USA Washington first team. In his senior season, he averaged 21.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, helped Gonzaga Prep win a second consecutive 4A state championship, and was named the unanimous state tournament MVP, the Associated Press 4A Player of the Year, and Washington Mr. Basketball. On June 21, 2017, before his junior season, he committed to play college basketball for Gonzaga.
Anton Watson Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Anton Michael Watson made his collegiate debut for the Gonzaga Bulldogs on November 5, 2019, recording seven points, five rebounds, and four assists in a win over Alabama State. He later posted 15 points in a victory over North Dakota on November 12. Watson started four games early in his freshman season while Killian Tillie recovered from knee surgery, giving him valuable experience in the frontcourt rotation.
On January 16, 2020, it was announced that Watson would undergo shoulder surgery and miss the remainder of the season. He finished his freshman year averaging 4.9 points and 3.1 rebounds across 15 games, a strong start that suggested a long, productive career at Gonzaga even if cut short by injury.
Gonzaga Breakthrough (2020–2024)
After recovering from shoulder surgery, Watson returned to the Gonzaga Bulldogs and grew into a central role for the program over the next several seasons. His combination of size, scoring efficiency, and rebounding helped anchor the Bulldogs in the West Coast Conference. He was recognized as one of the conference’s top players during the 2023–24 season.
In 2024, Watson was named First-team All-WCC, confirming his status as one of the premier frontcourt players in the conference. He finished his Gonzaga career as a respected veteran of the program, having contributed across multiple deep postseason runs for the Bulldogs.
Professional Era (2024–Present)
On June 27, 2024, Anton Michael Watson was selected with the 54th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. On August 2, 2024, he signed a two-way contract with the Celtics and began his professional career in the Celtics organization. He appeared for the Maine Celtics in the NBA G League during the 2024–25 season.
On March 2, 2025, Watson was waived by the Boston Celtics. Two days later, on March 4, 2025, he was claimed off waivers by the New York Knicks. In nine appearances for the Knicks, he averaged 0.9 points, 0.3 rebounds, and 0.2 assists. On September 27, 2025, Watson signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, and he was later assigned to the South Bay Lakers. He was waived by the Lakers prior to the start of the regular season on October 18, 2025, and joined the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League, where he continues his professional career wearing jersey number 22.
Driving Style and Strengths
Watson plays with the versatility of a modern combo forward, comfortable operating as a power forward or a small forward. His 6 ft 8 in frame and strong rebounding instincts allow him to compete on the glass, while his high school and college scoring averages reflect a player capable of creating offense in a variety of ways. He has consistently demonstrated court vision and the ability to pass from the frontcourt, an unusual skill for a player of his size.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Anton Michael Watson’s career include being named Washington Mr. Basketball in 2019, being selected 54th overall in the 2024 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics, and earning First-team All-WCC honors in 2024. His two consecutive Washington Class 4A state championships with Gonzaga Prep stand among the most notable achievements of his pre-professional career.
Anton Watson Career Highlights
Anton Michael Watson’s most prominent career highlights include his two Washington Class 4A state championships with Gonzaga Preparatory School, his Washington Mr. Basketball award in 2019, and his First-team All-WCC selection in 2024. He was also a second-round pick in the 2024 NBA draft, selected 54th overall by the Boston Celtics.
NBA G League Highlights
Watson made his professional debut in the NBA G League with the Maine Celtics during the 2024–25 season as part of his two-way contract with the Boston Celtics. He later spent time with the Westchester Knicks after being claimed off waivers by the New York Knicks in March 2025. As of the 2025–26 season, he plays for the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League, where he wears number 22 and continues to develop his professional game.
Other Awards and Performances
Watson earned the Associated Press 4A Player of the Year award and was the unanimous MVP of the Washington Class 4A state tournament in his senior season at Gonzaga Prep. He was also named to the USA Today All-USA Washington first team during his junior year, and he won the Greater Spokane League MVP during his sophomore season. These recognitions track his steady rise through the regional basketball ranks.
Anton Watson Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Anton Michael Watson comes from a strong athletic family. His father, Deon Watson Sr., played college basketball at Idaho from 1990 to 1994, where he set the program’s career rebounds record with 877 boards and later played professionally in Europe and South America. His older brother, Deon Watson Jr., played college football at Idaho from 2013 to 2016 as a tight end and wide receiver, and his sister Haile played volleyball at Eastern Washington in 2015 before transferring to Fresno State, where she played from 2016 to 2018.
Personal Life
Anton Michael Watson was raised in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and attended Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, Washington. The basketball influence of his father, Deon Sr., has been a defining part of his upbringing and his career. Watson is currently focused on his professional basketball career with the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been a transitional period for Anton Michael Watson. He began the year with the Maine Celtics on his two-way contract with the Boston Celtics, then was waived by Boston on March 2, 2025. Two days later, on March 4, 2025, he was claimed off waivers by the New York Knicks, where he appeared in nine games and averaged 0.9 points, 0.3 rebounds, and 0.2 assists.
On September 27, 2025, Watson signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, signaling a fresh opportunity in a new organization. He was waived by the Lakers prior to the start of the regular season on October 18, 2025, and joined the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League. He now wears jersey number 22 for South Bay and is looking to establish a more consistent role as he continues his professional development.
Watson enters the 2025–26 NBA G League season aiming to build on his NBA draft pedigree and his First-team All-WCC credentials from Gonzaga. His combination of size, rebounding, and frontcourt versatility gives the South Bay Lakers a promising developmental piece, and his career trajectory suggests he remains a player to watch as he works toward a more permanent NBA opportunity.
