Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
The Coach Mark Gottfried Show – Ep. 91 | C. J. Watson
From undrafted grinder to 10 year NBA veteran to successful entrepreneur CJ Watson sits down with Coach Mark Gottfried for an honest conversation about basketball life after the NBA and the changing landscape of college athletics.
CJ shares how growing up in Las Vegas playing against older physical competition fueled his drive his long journey from Italy and Greece to the D League and becoming the 100th call up in D League history when he joined the Golden State Warriors. He breaks down what allowed him to stick around for a decade in the NBA: adaptability professionalism and learning to be a true point guard an extension of the coach who knows when to lead loudly and when to encourage quietly.
After basketball CJ got intentional early. While still playing he attended NBA fellowships at Google and EA Sports. Today he is the author of four childrens books runs a non profit foundation in Las Vegas serves as an angel investor in tech and wellness and is a minority owner of a professional pickleball team.
CJ also opens up about parenting his daughter Ayanna Watson a freshman volleyball player at the University of Pittsburgh emphasizing honesty resilience and letting kids face real challenges instead of being protected from them.
On the current state of college sports CJ says NIL was well overdue but he worries the transfer portal is hurting player development and graduation rates. He stresses the need for better financial literacy and money management education for young athletes getting paid.
Plus the fun rapid fire segment: CJs GOAT debate (Michael Jordan over LeBron) his all time starting five (Curry Jordan Durant Duncan Shaq) and why he would pick Kevin Durant to take the game winning shot.
A great conversation about longevity transition and the future of the game.
Moments -
01:50 Early years and motivation
06:00 Path to the NBA
10:00 Warriors call up
15:56 Entrepreneurship
23:25 Parenting Ayanna
29:01 NIL and Transfer Portal
36:28 GOAT debate and favorites
44:42 Final thoughts
Comment below: Who is on YOUR all time starting five?
Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations with former players coaches and hoops insiders every week.
#CollegeBasketball #CJWatson #NBA #NIL #TransferPortal #GoldenStateWarriors #Pickleball #MarkGottfried #MichaelJordan #StephCurry
The Coach Mark Gottfried Show – Ep. 91 | C. J. Watson
From undrafted grinder to 10 year NBA veteran to successful entrepreneur CJ Watson sits down with Coach Mark Gottfried for an honest conversation about basketball life after the NBA and the changing landscape of college athletics.
CJ shares how growing up in Las Vegas playing against older physical competition fueled his drive his long journey from Italy and Greece to the D League and becoming the 100th call up in D League history when he joined the Golden State Warriors. He breaks down what allowed him to stick around for a decade in the NBA: adaptability professionalism and learning to be a true point guard an extension of the coach who knows when to lead loudly and when to encourage quietly.
After basketball CJ got intentional early. While still playing he attended NBA fellowships at Google and EA Sports. Today he is the author of four childrens books runs a non profit foundation in Las Vegas serves as an angel investor in tech and wellness and is a minority owner of a professional pickleball team.
CJ also opens up about parenting his daughter Ayanna Watson a freshman volleyball player at the University of Pittsburgh emphasizing honesty resilience and letting kids face real challenges instead of being protected from them.
On the current state of college sports CJ says NIL was well overdue but he worries the transfer portal is hurting player development and graduation rates. He stresses the need for better financial literacy and money management education for young athletes getting paid.
Plus the fun rapid fire segment: CJs GOAT debate (Michael Jordan over LeBron) his all time starting five (Curry Jordan Durant Duncan Shaq) and why he would pick Kevin Durant to take the game winning shot.
A great conversation about longevity transition and the future of the game.
Moments -
01:50 Early years and motivation
06:00 Path to the NBA
10:00 Warriors call up
15:56 Entrepreneurship
23:25 Parenting Ayanna
29:01 NIL and Transfer Portal
36:28 GOAT debate and favorites
44:42 Final thoughts
Comment below: Who is on YOUR all time starting five?
Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations with former players coaches and hoops insiders every week.
#CollegeBasketball #CJWatson #NBA #NIL #TransferPortal #GoldenStateWarriors #Pickleball #MarkGottfried #MichaelJordan #StephCurry
