| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1984-11-08)November 8, 1984 (age 40) Paterson, New Jersey |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
| Listed weight | 258 lb (117 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Paterson Catholic (Paterson, New Jersey) |
| College | Syracuse (2003–2007) |
| NBA draft | 2007:undrafted |
| Playing career | 2007–2020 |
| Position | Center |
| Career history | |
| 2007 | Sacramento Kings |
| 2007–2008 | Los Angeles D-Fenders |
| 2008 | Iowa Energy |
| 2008–2009 | Tianjin Ronggang |
| 2010–2011 | Sagesse |
| 2011–2012 | ETHA Engomis |
| 2012 | New Orleans Hornets |
| 2012–2013 | Lukoil Academic |
| 2013–2014 | Spirou |
| 2014–2015 | Chalons-Reims |
| 2015–2018 | ASVEL |
| 2019–2020 | BTN CLS Knights Indonesia |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Darryl Finesse Watkins (born November 8, 1984) is an American former professionalbasketball player who played forBTN CLS Knights Indonesia of theAsean Basketball League. He is a formercollege basketball player for theSyracuse Orange who has a reputation for his shot-blocking ability.[1]
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.
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 theNIT, Watkins blocked six shots against San Diego State,[4] tying Syracuse's NIT record.[3]
Watkins wore # 13 as a member of the Orange.
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 overCornell on November 9, 2005,[5] and matching that with another 8-block effort in a 77–76 win overCincinnati on January 27, 2007.[6]
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 theHouston 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]
On December 10, the Kings waived Watkins. Watkins split the rest of the season with theLos Angeles D-Fenders and theIowa Energy of theNBA Development League.[9]
Watkins played for theLos Angeles Clippers in the 2008 Las Vegas Summer League.[10]
On September 11, 2008, Watkins signed a two-year deal with theSan Antonio Spurs.[11] He, along withDevin Green andSalim Stoudamire, were cut on October 23.[12]
When noNBA team signed Watkins, he signed withTianjin Ronggang of theCBA on November 6, 2008.[13]
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 theCleveland Cavaliers,[15] but was waived on October 22, 2009.[16]
Watkins played for theIndiana Pacers in theOrlando Pro Summer League in 2010. He then signed a contract withSagesse in theLebanese Basketball League.[17]
Watkins played withEtha Engomis of Cyprus for 2011–12.[18] TheNew 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]
On July 11, 2012, Watkins was traded to thePhiladelphia 76ers in a three-team trade. The Sixers waived him just five days later, on July 16, after acquiringKwame Brown.[21]
In August 2012, he signed a one-year deal withPBC Lukoil Academic in Bulgaria.[22] On August 21, 2013, he signed a one-year deal withSpirou Charleroi.[23]
In July 2014, he signed withChalons-Reims of the FrenchLNB Pro A.[24]
On August 10, 2015, Watkins signed withASVEL Basket for the 2015–16 season.[25]
On January 4, 2019, Watkins signed theCLS Knights of theASEAN Basketball League replacing Stephen Hurts as CLS starting Center[1]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Source[26]
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 | Sacramento | 9 | 0 | 7.9 | .333 | – | .400 | 1.3 | .0 | .2 | .2 | 1.3 |
| 2011–12 | New Orleans | 5 | 0 | 19.6 | .500 | – | .500 | 5.4 | .6 | 1.0 | .8 | 4.6 |
| Career | 14 | 0 | 12.1 | .414 | – | .478 | 2.8 | .2 | .5 | .4 | 2.5 | |