In his later years Watts taught physical education in the Seattle School District and ran a basketball academy with his son. He was named to the Sonics' 40th anniversary team.

Watts, who had a stroke in 2021, had been in poor health since. Grandson Isaiah Watts, who plays for Washington State, praised his grandfather on X: “I pray every time they see

Former Seattle Supersonics guard Donald "Slick" Watts has died at 73, his son announced on social media. Watts, an undrafted free agent in 1973, emerged as a fan favorite in the Pacific Northwest due to his stellar play, signature crooked headbands and frequent presence around the Seattle sports scene.