As a kid, Trendon Watford stood out for his height, but his dad encouraged him to be more than just a traditional basketball big man, pushing him to develop impressive dribbling skills despite his stature.
His skills have been a game-changer in the NBA; standing tall at 6'8", Watford not only handles the ball with finesse but has even stepped in as a makeshift backup point guard for Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn, making him a unique and valuable asset for any NBA team.
“Growing up, my dad used to coach me all the way up to middle school. He let the coach know to never put me at the big or the five,” Watford said on the Voice of The Nets Podcast with Chris Carrino. “Whenever you play rec ball, the coach wanted me to play the big. But my dad, he knew I would just work on my ball handling… I think that’s why I’m so comfortable.”
The trademark Watford floater
To pair with his ball-handling ability, Watford also has a trademark shot which is his floater. It is a shot usually favored by smaller players but with his shooting touch, Watford has made defenders whenever they leave him open in the paint. )
“It’s all about knowing yourself. Obviously, I don’t dunk on people that much, I don’t really play above the rim like that,” Watford said. “I just sort of found that touch shot in the middle of the paint. It’s just a shot that I’ve been comfortable with since high school, honestly.”
Watford can be inserted into any team
As a hybrid between forward and small-ball center, Trendon has become one of the most unique players in the league. However, his skill set lends itself to be used by almost any team in the league.
During his time with the Portland Trail Blazers, they found him as a small-ball center which worked out wonderfully for him, becoming a regular player off their bench.
The Blazers then waived him which opened up an opportunity with the Nets where he plays now. He can still function as a forward/center hybrid but coach Vaughn has used Watford as a big man who can bring the ball up the floor. His mix of playmaking and scoring lets him stay on the floor, as his feel for the game makes him stand out with the current group of Nets.
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