Former Boston Celtics draft pick Anton Watson has taken a winding route since leaving the organization after his rookie season, but he may finally be finding some stability.
And it is coming with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Watson spent the 2025-26 campaign with the Lakers’ G League affiliate, South Bay, establishing himself as a regular part of the rotation before earning another opportunity with Los Angeles at Summer League.
The 25-year-old’s continued development is particularly interesting given where his professional career began. Boston selected Watson with the No. 54 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft before ultimately moving on less than a year later.
Boston Celtics Moved on From Anton Watson Within Rookie Season
Watson entered the NBA with Boston in 2024 and spent most of his rookie campaign on a two-way contract.
While he never made his Celtics debut at the NBA level, the former Gonzaga standout received significant opportunities with the Maine Celtics.
Across 37 G League appearances, Watson averaged 12.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.0 steal while shooting 44.1% from the field and 31.9% from three-point range.
Boston ultimately waived Watson from his two-way deal in March 2025, opening the door for him to join the New York Knicks. He went on to make nine NBA appearances in a limited role before once again finding himself searching for his next opportunity.
That eventually brought Watson to the Lakers’ developmental system.
During his second professional season, Watson became a mainstay for South Bay, appearing in 50 games and making 34 starts.
He averaged 11.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 combined steals and blocks while shooting an improved 50.2% from the field. Watson also converted 33.3% of his three-point attempts on 3.7 attempts per game.
His performances seemingly did enough to earn another extended evaluation from the Lakers, who brought Watson back for their 2026 Summer League campaign.
For a former Celtics draft pick still trying to establish himself professionally, the opportunity offered another chance to prove Boston may have moved on too soon.
Anton Watson Strengthens Case for Lakers Future
Watson featured seven times across the 2026 California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 7.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.6 combined steals and blocks in 20.7 minutes per game.
His efficiency dipped, with Watson shooting 34% from the field, but his versatility playing at the four and five, alongside his high-energy approach, continued to stand out.
One of his strongest performances came in the Lakers’ dramatic 93-91 double-overtime victory over the Miami Heat at the California Classic.
Watson recorded a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double alongside two steals. Despite shooting just 4-of-12 from the field and 1-of-5 from three-point range, he made the decisive contribution by tipping in the game-winner.
At 6-foot-8, Watson lacks the size of a traditional NBA center. That becomes less of an issue in the G League, where versatile forwards are regularly used at the five and could provide Watson with an avenue toward a larger frontcourt role.
“They’ve got to put a lot more respect on his name,” Lakers rookie Cameron Carr said about Watson at Summer League. “I feel like a lot of people are saying he’s not capable of doing things and every single game he continues to step out there and show what he can do.”
That versatility has followed Watson since before he entered the NBA. As a draft prospect, evaluators described him as possessing a “broad base, a thick frame and natural strength. He can score on the low block and hit from outside and he’s also a polished passer.”
Importantly, the Lakers retain Watson’s returning G League rights, giving the organization control over where he plays at that level unless those rights are moved.
Watson may not provide the towering size traditionally associated with the center position, but his physicality, versatility, and familiarity with the Lakers’ system give him an intriguing pathway forward.
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