Peyton Watson drafted by Denver Nuggets in 1st round of 2022 NBA Draft

Former Long Beach Poly star Peyton Watson was selected by the Denver Nuggets with the last pick of the first round in the 2022 NBA Draft. 

Watson, a 2021 Poly grad, was widely projected to be a second-round pick, but the Nuggets nabbed him with pick No. 30 on Thursday night. Watson averaged 3.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game as a freshman for UCLA last season. He made 32 appearances for the Bruins but never started a game.

At the NBA Draft Combine, Watson measured out at 6-foot-8 in shoes, with a wingspan of just over seven feet. 

Due to COVID-19, Watson played sparingly in his senior season at Long Beach Poly, choosing to opt out at the end since games went all the way through mid-June. (Watch highlights of Watson in high school above.)

In his junior season, Watson led Poly to a 17-13 record. The Jackrabbits advanced to the second round of the Division 1 CIF Southern Section playoffs that year, losing to Riverside Poly 81-60.