Anton Watson returns as undisputed leader for Gonzaga men's basketball team

Continuity and experience are paramount in college basketball, and arguably no one on the Gonzaga men's basketball team personifies that more than Anton Watson.

Watson's ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor with hustle and a high basketball IQ have been pivotal to the Zags' success over the previous three seasons. For all of the advanced metrics, which Watson grades highly in, there isn't a number that can quantify his value to the program. Just ask Drew Timme.

“Without him, we probably wouldn’t even be in the tournament right now,” Timme said to the Athletic during the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Rasir Bolton, Nolan Hickman, Malachi Smith and Braden Huff all had similar praise for Watson, who started all 37 games last season.

Watson's teammates didn't take kindly to the 6-foot-8 forward's exclusion from either of the all-conference teams. Despite him leading the conference in offensive rating while posting the second-highest steal percentage and true shooting percentage, Watson didn't take home any individual accolades outside of an honorable mention.

That seemed like a mistake during the West Coast Conference tournament, where Watson dropped 20 points with a pair of 3-pointers against San Francisco. That effort, along with a nine-point, 10-rebound and five-assist game, earned him a spot on the All-WCC tournament team.

Now five months later, Timme's sentiment could forecast Watson's impact on the 2023-24 Gonzaga Bulldogs, who could see up to six players suit up for the first time in college.

Largely viewed as the Zags' "glue guy", Watson's high motor and selflessness on the court help Gonzaga's offense and defense click. He's a low-maintenance scorer who doesn't need to be fed the ball to get buckets and will take on any defensive assignment on the other end. A two-way player with a high basketball IQ and familiarity with the system bodes well for a Zags squad that doesn't have much experience playing with one another.

One teammate he'll build chemistry with is Creighton transfer Ryan Nembhard, the younger brother of former Gonzaga guard Andrew Nembhard. The younger Nembhard took Creighton's offense to another gear last season, as the Bluejays jumped from 112th in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency in 2021-22 to No. 23 in the country with the 6-foot guard running the show for all 37 games. He stepped up against high-level competition too, including a 30-point night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Baylor and a 25-point outing versus No. 9 Arkansas.

Another Nembhard-Watson pick-and-roll duo would elevate Gonzaga's offense, especially if Watson continues to expand his game beyond the 3-point line.

Last season saw Watson spend more time on the perimeter than in previous seasons, largely to do with spacing the floor for Timme to operate down low. As defenses swarmed the paint, Watson received a lot of open looks from deep and he looked to take advantage, even if it wasn't truly in his arsenal just yet. Still, he doubled his amount of makes and attempts from the previous two seasons combined, shooting 16-of-48 from deep.

It's an element of his game that continues to develop. He made that known to scouts during the NBA Draft Combine in May, where he went 3-for-4 from deep in two scrimmages. And with another dominant low-post scorer in Graham Ike in the frontcourt, Watson's attempts from deep could increase again.

It has been quite the journey for Watson, who is likely to finish his career in the top five for most games played in Gonzaga men's basketball history. From shoulder surgery as a freshman to appearing in a national championship game a year later, he's experienced highs and lows throughout his collegiate career. And in his final season, he'll be the leader and face of his hometown team.