Donald Watts always has been the good son, the dutiful basketball offspring.
Rather than feel any pressure playing in the shadow of legendary Seattle Sonics point guard Slick Watts, trademark headband, cool nickname and all, the younger Watts became a University of Washington standout, an adept shooting guard as well as an able ball-handler, and helped the Huskies twice advance to the NCAA tournament.
Yet for all of life’s cruel ironies, Donald, 46, is recovering from a stroke he suffered a month ago — with his medical emergency coming two-plus years after Slick was significantly disabled by a “massive” stroke of his own.
For several months, the son provided inspirational updates and images of his then-70-year-old father being nursed back to better health, with Donald always in the middle of the care for his dad.
On Friday, Donald posted a video of himself in a Washington State basketball gym, determinedly doing “lines,” trying to reach 28 seconds again, describing how he’s just 30 days into his rehabilitation.