Peyton Watson is a rising star basketball player known for his fantastic athleticism and all-around the corner on the floor. But Peyton’s passion for the game was tattooed in him at an early young age by his father, a former player, and coach.

Peyton had an excellent high school and collegiate basketball career with correct coaching, perseverance, and God-given skills, earning tremendous honors and distinctions such as McDonald’s All-American, Pac-12 All-Freshman Team, and so on.

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And now, this exceptional 20-year-old player is playing for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA, on his bridge to becoming one of the most well-known names in the league.

So far, the rookie has been outstanding on the court. He scored 37 points in a 121-119 loss against the Raptors on March 12, 2023, and shot 60.9 percent from the floor. 

But did Peyton Watson get picked right out of high school, or did he go to college? To find out, keep reading till the conclusion.

This article will also discuss his personal life, childhood, net worth, and other topics. But first, let’s have a look at his brief facts.

Quick Facts

Full Name	Peyton Tyler Watson
Nickname	Peyton
Date of Birth	September 11, 2002
Age	20 Years Old
Birth Place	Long Beach, California
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	African-American
Zodiac Sign	Virgo
Height	6 feet 7 inches/2.01 m/201 cm
Weight	180 lbs/82 kg
Hair Color	Black
Eye Color	Black
Father’s Name	Julio Watson
Mother’s Name	Antoinette Watson
Siblings	Two: Christian Watson (brother) and Jolie Grace (sister)
High School	Long Beach Polytechnic High School
Education	University Drop out
University	University of California (UCLA)
Relationship Status	Not available
Profession	Basketball player
Position	Small forward
Leagues	NBA, NBA G League
NBA Draft	2022 / Round: 1 / Pick: 30/Oklahoma City Thunder
Debut Year	2022
Playing Teams	Denver Nuggets (2022- present) Grand Rapids Gold (2022 – present)
Jersey Number	No. 8 (Denver Nuggets)
Awards and Achievements	Pac-12 All-Freshman Team McDonald’s All-American  Moore League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Gold medal at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup
Net Worth	Estimated $1 – $5 Million
Social Media	Twitter, Instagram

Early Years

Peyton Tyler Watson was born in the bustling city of Long Beach, California, on September 11, 2002. He is the first child of Julio Watson and Antoinette Watson.

He has two siblings: Christian Watson, a younger brother who plays basketball at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, and Jolie Grace, a younger sister.

Antoinette, Peyton’s mother, works as an event planner, and Julio, his father, is a medical device salesperson. His father is a former basketball athlete and Eastman Eagles basketball coach.

Peyton was encouraged to play basketball by his father, and he began playing at the age of two. He started his career with the Lakewood YMCA squad before joining the Eastman team when he was eight or nine.

Watson transferred to Poly High School after finishing eighth grade at St. Barnabas School and joining the varsity team as a freshman.

Age, Height, & Weight

Peyton Watson will be 20 years old in 2023. He is a Virgo because he was born in September.

Furthermore, he was born in California, USA, and identifies as an African-American American.

Peyton’s physical qualities are ideal for an athlete, with a height of 6’7 (2.01 m) and 180 pounds (82 kg).

Early Career 

Peyton Watson began his high school basketball career as a bench player. However, he rapidly established his value and became a team leader in his junior year.

Watson had modest success in high school, garnering Moore League MVP honors. He was also a McDonald’s All-American, Jordan Brand Classic, and Nike Hoop Summit participant.

He was a consensus five-star recruit due to his accomplishments, and he obtained scholarships from Arizona, Gonzaga, Michigan, Oregon, and Washington. He did, however, commit to playing college basketball at UCLA.

Watson also demonstrated his exceptional abilities in college, earning an honorable mention for the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. After one year of college, he declared for the NBA Draught in 2022 to begin his professional career.

Professional Career

Watson was selected 30th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first match of the 2022 NBA Draught. He was later traded to the NBA Denver Nuggets. He is presently split between the Nuggets and their G League affiliate, Grand Rapids Gold.

 

National Career

Watson was a USA’s gold-medal-winning squad member at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Latvia.

Watson was instrumental in the team’s victory over Canada in the championship game. He had a game average of 4.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. Overall, the United States team won gold with a score of 92-86.

Awards and Recognition 

Despite being a rookie in his career, Peyton Watson has already received several awards and accolades, including:

• Pac-12 All-Freshman Team

• McDonald’s All-American game selection

• Jordan Brand Classic selection

• Nike Hoop Summit selection

• California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Player of the Year

• Moore League Most Valuable Player (MVP)

• Press-Telegram Dream Team Player of the Year

• MaxPreps California Player of the Year

• USA Today All-USA California Boys Basketball Team selection

• All-CIF Division 1AA first-team selection

• Gold medal at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup

Relationship 

Unfortunately, there is no public information or rumors concerning Peyton’s relationship. For now, he is in a relationship with his career. But stay tuned; we’ll keep you posted if we hear anything.

Salary & Net Worth

Because Petyon Watson is still a rookie, there must be more accurate information on his net worth. However, depending on his current contract and salary, his net worth and salary are believed to be between $1 and $5 million.

According to Sportrac, Watson signed a four-year contract with the Denver Nuggets worth $11,267,516 on July 3, 2022. His annual compensation is approximately $2.8 million.

Interesting Facts

• ESPN listed Peyton Watson as the 16th-best prospect in the 2022 recruiting class.

• Watson is the first Long Beach Poly player to be named Moore League MVP since Jordan Bell in 2013.

• Off the court, Watson is known for his love of fashion and has been spotted in some unusual and elegant ensembles.

• Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant are Watson’s favorite professional basketball players.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Was Peyton Watson traded off?

Yes, Peyton was selected by Oklahoma City Thunder but was traded off to Denver Nuggets in exchange for JaMychal Green and a 2027 protected first-round draft pick.

Does Peyton Watson have a wide wingspan?

Yes, Peyton has a wingspan of 7-0.5 and a 9-foot standing reach. With a height of 6’7 (2.01 m), Peyton is well known for his NBA athleticism and great size, which can be his competitive advantage on the court.