Darryl Watkins

Darryl Finesse Watkins (born November 8, 1984) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for BTN CLS Knights Indonesia of the Asean Basketball League. He is a former college basketball player for the Syracuse Orange who has a reputation for his shot-blocking ability.[1]

Darryl Watkins
Free agent
PositionCenter
Personal information
Born (1984-11-08) November 8, 1984
Paterson, New Jersey
NationalityAmerican
Listed height7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight258 lb (117 kg)
Career information
High schoolPaterson Catholic
(Paterson, New Jersey)
CollegeSyracuse (2003–2007)
NBA draft2007 / Undrafted
Playing career2007–present
Career history
2007Sacramento Kings
2007–2008Los Angeles D-Fenders
2008Iowa Energy
2008–2009Tianjin Ronggang
2010–2011Sagesse
2011–2012ETHA Engomis
2012New Orleans Hornets
2012–2013Lukoil Academic
2013–2014Spirou
2014–2015Chalons-Reims
2015–2018ASVEL
2019–2020BTN CLS Knights Indonesia
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

High school

A first-team all-state pick as a senior, Watkins was a four-time all-county selection and earned all-area his final two seasons. He averaged approximately 16 points, 11 rebounds, six blocks and three assists in his senior campaign.[2]

He was rated 35th nationally and seventh at center by ESPN.com, 35th by PrepStars, 51st by Insiders Hoops, and 60th by Hoop Scoop. New Jersey Hoops ranked him 4th in New Jersey.

College

Used as a backup for his first two seasons at Syracuse, Watkins became Syracuse's starting center in his junior year. He registered 99 blocks that season, and ranked 16th in Division I blocked shots per game (2.8). He finished the season averaging 7.1 points and 7.3 rebounds.[3]

Watkins averaged 8.1 points and 7.5 rebounds a game in his senior year. He missed several games early on in the season due to a bruised nose, but still appeared in 33 games, starting 32 of them. He continued his intimidation inside, ranking seventh in Division I players in blocked-shot average (3.4). In the NIT, Watkins blocked six shots against San Diego State,[4] tying Syracuse's NIT record.[3]

Watkins wore # 13 as a member of the Orange.

College legacy

Watkins finished his career with 67 starts in 106 appearances with averages of 6.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He ranked fifth in career blocks at Syracuse with 263 and recorded three or more blocks in a game 48 times during his tenure.[3] Highlights include blocking a career-high 8 shots[3] in a 67-62 win over Cornell on November 9, 2005,[5] and matching that with another 8-block effort in a 77-76 win over Cincinnati on January 27, 2007.[6] Nobody called him 'Mookie'

Professional career

Sacramento Kings

On June 29, 2007 Watkins signed a free agent contract with the Sacramento Kings. Watkins played for the Kings' mini-camp in early July and also in their Vegas summer league. In the Vegas summer league, he averaged 3.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game, including a nine-point, three-rebound effort against the Houston Rockets.[7] In August 2007, Watkins signed a partially guaranteed deal worth an estimated $450,000 with the Kings and appeared in nine games.[8]

D-League Stint (Iowa Energy and LA D-Fenders)

On December 10, the Kings waived Watkins. Watkins split the rest of the season with the Los Angeles D-Fenders and the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League.[9]

Los Angeles Clippers

Watkins played for the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2008 Las Vegas Summer League.[10]

San Antonio Spurs

On September 11, 2008, Watkins signed a two-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs.[11] He, along with Devin Green and Salim Stoudamire, were cut on October 23.[12]

Tianjin (CBA)

When no NBA team signed Watkins, he signed with Tianjin Ronggang of the CBA on November 6, 2008.[13]

2009–2010

KK Crvena zvezda (BC Red Star Belgrade) agreed to sign Watkins for the 2009-10 season.[14] However, Watkins opted to remain in the United States after the birth of his daughter on August 14. He tried out for the Cleveland Cavaliers,[15] but was waived on October 22, 2009.[16]

2010–2011

Watkins played for the Indiana Pacers in the Orlando Pro Summer League in 2010. He then signed a contract with Sagesse in the Lebanese Basketball League.[17]

2011–2012

Watkins played with Etha Engomis of Cyprus for 2011–12.[18] The New Orleans Hornets signed Watkins to a 10-day contract on April 18, 2012.[19] In his first game with New Orleans, he recorded 13 rebounds (a game high) and 2 points in 29 minutes in a loss to Memphis.[20]

Philadelphia 76ers

On July 11, 2012, Watkins was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in a three-team trade. The Sixers waived him just five days later, on July 16, after acquiring Kwame Brown.[21]

Return to Europe

In August 2012, he signed a one-year deal with PBC Lukoil Academic in Bulgaria.[22] On August 21, 2013, he signed a one-year deal with Spirou Charleroi.[23]

In July 2014, he signed with Chalons-Reims of the French LNB Pro A.[24]

On August 10, 2015, Watkins signed with ASVEL Basket for the 2015–16 season.[25]

CLS Knights

On January 4, 2019, Watkins signed the CLS Knights of the ASEAN Basketball League replacing Stephen Hurts as CLS starting Center

References
  1. Young, Ray. "Darryl Watkins Profile". Orangehoops.org. Retrieved 2007-08-25.
  2. "Darryl Watkins Profile". SUAthletics.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-08-25.
  3. "Darryl Watkins Prospect Profile". NBA.com. Retrieved 2007-08-25.
  4. Largest crowd in NIT history cheers Orange to second-round win
  5. Cornell 62, Syracuse 67 - Box score
  6. Syracuse 77, Cincinnati 76
  7. "Darryl Watkins Profile". NBA.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2007-08-25.
  8. Zagoria, Adam (2007-08-12). "Paterson alumni begin pro hoops careers". The Herald News. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
  9. "CNY in the Pros". The Post Standard. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  10. You can't spell NBA SUmmer League without SU - Orange Basketball Blog on syracuse.com
  11. Darryl Watkins set to sign with San Antonio
  12. Roster roundup: Knicks waive Houston, ending comeback
  13. Darryl Watkins signs with CBA team
  14. Darryl Watkins close to Red Star Belgrade Archived 2009-10-08 at the Wayback Machine
  15. Rick Noland. Cavs missing some key ingredients in loss to Wizards. Chronicle Telegram. October 15, 2009. Retrieved on October 15, 2009.
  16. Cavs Waive Barrett, Robinson, Watkins Archived 2009-10-24 at the Wayback Machine
  17. http://www.asia-basket.com/Lebanon/basketball.asp?NewsID=209229
  18. Triumph Suffer First Defeat To ETHA | EuroChallenge 2012 | FIBA Europe
  19. Hornets sign Watkins
  20. https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201204180MEM.html
  21. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-01-20. Retrieved 2012-07-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. "Lukoil Academic adds Watkins at center". Euroleague.net. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  23. "BELGACOM SPIROU adds Mookie Watkins". Eurocupbasketball.net. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  24. "Darryl WATKINS signe au CCRB". ccrbasket.com (in French). Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  25. "ASVEL VIlleurbanne signs Darryl Watkins". Sportando.com. August 10, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
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