Anton Watson Drafted 54th to the Boston Celtics

Of course the winningest player in this draft class (132-19, .874 winning percentage in his five seasons with Gonzaga) was picked up by the defending NBA champions. The Boston Celtics decided to take Anton Watson with the 54th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

There was a lot of chatter that Watson snuck up draft boards these last couple of days as he was expected to go undrafted. Brad Stevens is one smart dude for pulling the trigger. He makes an even better general manager than head coach which is saying a lot.

It’s something about defending champions picking Gonzaga players. In 2023, the Denver Nuggets took Julian Strawther with the 29th pick. NBA scouts and general managers can appreciate how they were coached under Mark Few and their seriousness when working on their craft. Watson has improved upon his game each season in Spokane and will make an excellent all-around player at the next level.

The Boston fanbase is going to fall in love with the 6’8 forward. Watson’s versatility as an on-ball defender stands out the most as he can guard all five positions. He’s also a savvy passer and offensive post presence. Watson plays with a ton of intensity and heart.

At least one player from Gonzaga has been selected in the NBA Draft since 2021. This marks the 31st Gonzaga player to get drafted in program history. I’m sure Watson will be spending quite a bit of time in the G-League but he’s going to learn a lot from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown when up with the big club.

The only upsetting thing about today was the fact that ESPN didn’t give Anton Watson more love during his draft moment. They seemed a lot more focused on the coverage of Bronny James going to the Lakers which has just been overplayed through out this whole draft process.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho