Despite holding himself to high standards, Demond Watt admits even he has been surprised by his debut season in the British Basketball League (BBL) for Cheshire Phoenix.
The 25-year-old has been the star performer in the BBL this season, scooping his fourth Player of the Month award last week and remaining on course to be in the all-time league top 10 in field goal percentage.
It’s a pretty remarkable return for a player who has been under the radar so far in a professional career that has taken in spells in Iceland, Finland, Sweden and even Mongolia.
With the Nix locked into fourth and gearing themselves up for a tilt at play-off glory, Watt is hoping his stellar season can continue and he can help his team-mates hold aloft the play-off trophy at the O2 Arena next month.
“My goal was to try and have a big year this season but I didn’t think I would have this much success here,” said the 6ft 7ins forward, who hails from Chicago.
“I feel as I have exceeded my expectations but I still feel as if I can be better this season for the team.
“I feel every moment that happens in my career moving forward is a highlight for me. I’m just happy to be able to play this game.
“Playing at the O2 would be a big highlight in my career, though, playing in front of all those people on the biggest stage in the BBL.
“To win it on that stage would be big, especially after the season we have been through.”
The Nix have managed to keep pace with the leading pack in the BBL despite head coach John Coffino’s side having to contend with wholesale roster changes, with only Watt and veteran David Aliu remaining from the Cheshire roster that lined up fot the first game of the season.
But since the turn of the year the squad has had the opportunity to come together as a unit, something that Watt believes is required if they are to deny Newcastle Eagles the chance of a claiming the treble and defeat the likes of Leicester Riders, who scored a 100-82 success over the Nix on Saturday night.
“The chemistry is getting better with the team but we haven’t been playing well, but we are playing together and that’s all we can ask for now,” said the Texas A&M Corpus Christi graduate.
“Once we start to play well I feel we can have a lot of play-off success.
“Sunday’s loss was very tough. They (Leicester) are a top team but I feel that we can compete with them. We have the talent to be a top team. We just have to come ready to battle.”
The Nix are back in action this Sunday at home to the Durham Wildcats (5.30pm), their first game at the Northgate Arena in almost a month, with Watt keen to get back in front of the Phoenix faithful.
“I’m excited to be playing Sunday as it’s been about a month since we’ve been at home so to be able to play in front of our fans will be very exciting,” he added.
