Anthony Watson

Anthony Scott Watson (born September 25, 1964) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the San Diego State Aztecs. He led the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in scoring in 1986, when he was named the WAC Player of the Year. Watson was named twice to both the All-WAC first team as well the All-WAC tournament Team. He finished his Aztec career with the school record for most points scored in a game (54), and left with the second-most career points (1,735) in school history.

Watson was drafted by the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the fourth round of the 1986 NBA draft with the 87th overall pick. He did not make the team, but went on to play professionally in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) as well as for Athletes in Action.

Early life Watson was born in Chicago to Shirley Watson and Edward Johnson. He developed close relationships with his parents, who never married. Watson grew up for 12 years in Chicago, raised mostly by his grandmother, Ora Mae Watson. She became one of the biggest influences in his life. Watson began playing basketball in Chicago, but his best memories of the city were of jumping on trains running from tracks blocks away from his home, and riding on the outside of the train to a swimming pool a few miles away. In the eighth grade, Watson moved to Detroit with his mother and her new husband, a Baptist minister, with whom Watson also developed a good relationship. Most outside observers anticipated that he would play college basketball nearby at Michigan, joining Cooley teammate Roy Tarpley. However, Watson wanted to play immediately, and instead chose to move west to play at San Diego State University (SDSU). In their first-round loss to the UNLV Runnin' Rebels, Watson scored 19 points and had six assists.

Before the start of his senior season, Watson ran into teammate Creon Dorsey during practice and suffered a split in the webbing between the middle and index fingers of his right hand. The injury needed 10 stitches and had to be wrapped heavily with gauze and tape. The Aztecs started the season 0–7, and Watson was averaging around 17 points through the first five weeks. He was frustrated with his injury and the team's poor start. Furthermore, injuries to two frontcourt players forced the team to move him out of position from guard to small forward, where the Watson faced stronger players standing around . When Steffond Johnson returned to the lineup in mid-January, Watson was able to move back outside. His hand had also healed, and his play improved. His 22 free throws that night were also a record. Watson was again named to the All-WAC Tournament team after the Aztecs ended their season with a 78–75 loss to the UTEP Miners in the conference tournament. He finished the season as the WAC's scoring champion with a 22.5 point average, He also received honorable mention All-American honors from the Associated Press. moving to third after Brandon Heath passed him in 2006. Watson also left with a school record of 702 career field goals.

Professional career Watson was drafted in the fourth round of the 1986 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets. Though he played mostly shooting guard in college, Watson at only was projected as a point guard. He joined the La Crosse Catbirds of the CBA, entering the 1986–87 season projected as a backup point guard to Dennis Nutt. Watson was released by La Crosse on December 23, 1986.

Watson returned to San Diego State in early 1987 to serve as a graduate assistant coach. He joined Athletes in Action in 1988.