Watson’s ability to impact both ends of the floor bodes well for the former Gonzaga product as he prepares for his rookie season with the Boston Celtics
Anton Watson may have traded his red, white and blue digs for Boston Celtics’ white and green, but the formerstandout had a familiar impact with his new team in the NBA Las Vegas Summer League.
But expectation wasn’t reality. Brad Stevens liked what he saw from the 6-foot-8 wing in pre-draft workouts, not to mention the lengthy scouting reports derived from Watson’s days as a Zag. Stevens found it worth using a late second-round pick on an older but perhaps more polished player who could potentially fit in Boston’s championship-caliber rotation in 2024 and beyond.
Perhaps the point of emphasis though was 3-point shooting. Watson, who shot 41.2% on 1.5 attempts in 2023-24 with the Bulldogs, shot 35.0% on 4.0 attempts per game in five summer league games with Boston. A slight dip in efficiency shouldn’t overshadow the fact Watson was aggressively hunting for his shot and was willing to fire when given an open look.
The same can be said for Watson’s role on the defensive end of the floor, as his size and versatility are highly coveted given the number of teams that opt to switch screens in the NBA. Watson was Gonzaga’s most valued on-ball defender for that reason and it showed in the summer league, as he covered guards and bigs, rookies and established second-year pros all the same.
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