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Who is Anton Watson? LA Lakers’ newest signing who played for New York Knicks

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aikansh Chaudhary | Last updated Sep 28, 2025 6:05 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for the NBA Training Camp.

With the Los Angeles Lakers already completing the major signings of Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, it’s time for them to give chances to underrated prospects.

The best way to do so is to hand Exhibit 10 deals to prospects ahead of the NBA Training Camp. Speaking of which, the Lakers recently announced the arrival of Anton Watson.

But who is Anton Watson? Let’s take a quick look at his NBA journey so far.

Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

Anton Watson’s NBA career

As mentioned earlier, Watson recently signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Purple and Gold. This will allow him to get a shot at impressing head coach JJ Redick during training camp.

Watson stands at 6’8″ and weighs 225 lbs. He plays the small forward position while shooting from his right hand.

As for his NBA career, Watson has played in just nine games for the New York Knicks, averaging 0.9 points, 0.3 rebounds, and 0.2 assists per game for the team during the 2024-25 NBA season.

However, the soon-to-be 25-year-old wasn’t drafted by the Knicks as the Boston Celtics picked him using the 54th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

So far, Watson has failed to impress NBA scouts, but he will be hoping to change that during his stint with the Lakers.

Anton Watson’s NCAA and G League stats

While Watson didn’t get off to a flying start in the NBA, he had a stellar five-year run with the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the NCAA.

Stats	Freshman (2019-20)	Sophomore (2020-21)	Junior (2021-22)	Senior (2022-23)	Senior (2023-24)
Points	4.9 PPG	6.9 PPG	7.3 PPG	11.1 PPG	14.5 PPG
Rebounds	3.1 RPG	3.3 RPG	4.7 RPG	6.2 RPG	7.1 RPG
Assists	1.5 APG	1.2 APG	1.9 APG	2.4 APG	2.6 APG

Overall, Watson averaged a respectable 9.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game in the NCAA while shooting 58.6% from the field.

During the 2024-25 season, Watson also played in 21 games for the Maine Celtics in the G League. He averaged a solid 12.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in the G League.

The next task for Watson is to prove himself as a worthy role player in the NBA.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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