The Quiet Storm: Beyond the Game
Born and raised in Las Vegas, C.J. is the son of parents from the South who instilled in him a sense of southern hospitality and strong personal morals. College was always the expectation in his family, but as a kid he understood his parents couldn't easily afford it. So he leaned into being good at both sports and academics, hoping to lighten that load. His parents also made a point of exposing him to life beyond his own neighborhood, taking him to camps and cities outside Vegas, a value he's carried into his own foundation work today.
That groundwork paid off at Bishop Gorman High School, where he won multiple state championships and was named state player of the year which is when he realized that basketball could take him further than he'd imagined.
The long road to the league
C.J. played four years at the University of Tennessee before going undrafted — including a last-second call from his agent telling him Detroit was about to take him with the final pick, only for the pick to pass him by. Rather than derail him, it sent him overseas, where he spent his first six or seven months in Italy playing under a new head coach almost every month. It wasn't the smoothest introduction to professional ball, but he still loved his time living in Italy. From there he moved to Greece for the final two months of the playoffs, got traded, and eventually returned to the U.S. to play in the D-League — a stint that lasted just a month before he was called up to the NBA, where he went on to play for ten years. Years later, still feeling like he had more left, he gave it one more shot overseas in Turkey before a bad ankle finally closed the book on his playing career.
Quiet Storm Foundation
Even while he was still playing, C.J. was building something bigger than his career: the Quiet Storm Foundation, now entering its seventeenth year. The foundation runs free programming throughout the school year, including field trips every first and third Saturday, fitness instruction, and academic tutoring for kids who need it. It also runs the Hoops for Hope Basketball Camp - a free camp his mother originally organized through the City of Las Vegas before the foundation took it over once C.J. reached the NBA. This year marks the camp's 23rd anniversary.
One of the foundation's signature programs is a Black History essay competition held during Black History Month, drawing roughly 2,000 student applicants. The contest traces back to C.J.'s early efforts to get involved with the community and public schools where he lived and worked in Oakland, California, and today runs across the Clark County School District in Las Vegas. It gives students from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds a chance to put their academic and public speaking skills to work: of the six participating CCSD schools, one winner from each is chosen to recite their essay at the Annual Black History Student Luncheon Recognition.
During his playing career, that history shaped the prize itself - winners and their families were flown out for a full NBA experience, complete with hotel stays, a limo ride to the game, and recognition at halftime. The program is personal for C.J.: he never attended an NBA game himself before playing in one, since his family couldn't afford tickets and Las Vegas didn't have a team of its own at the time. Now that he's retired, the foundation has shifted the trip to Washington, D.C., where winners tour the National Museum of African American History and Culture (which was funded in part by NBA players) along with HBCUs to give students a firsthand look at college life. Winners are also given the option to have the foundation seed a 529 college savings plan on their behalf instead of a laptop, and most choose the 529 — a sign, C.J. says, that these kids are already investing in their own futures.
From Player to Published Author
After retiring, C.J. became a children's book author - something he never planned on. The goal was simple: tell his own story authentically while reinforcing how important reading and education are to kids, values he traces back to growing up as an "eighties baby" for whom reading was always emphasized. The idea came together almost by accident, sparked by a phone conversation with a former coach who happened to be a published author and offered guidance on getting started.
Since his first book in 2019, C.J. has published four children's books and a companion coloring book, inspired in part by his daughters' love of drawing. He's currently in discussions with studios about adapting the series into a cartoon.
Building Beyond Basketball
C.J.'s interest in business began well before he retired. During his playing days, he used his off-seasons for internships at Google, EA Sports, and several real estate firms, treating every season like it might be his last given he entered the league undrafted. That mindset, always preparing for what's next, laid the groundwork for his current work as an angel investor. He's since invested in more than 30 companies spanning sports and technology, including a professional pickleball team, and serves as an advisor to Synergy Sports Capital, a fund led by fellow PAC member Terrence Murphy, who he met at PAC Accelerate in Phoenix.
Backing the Next Wave of Sports Tech
C.J. is also an advisor to AirPlAi, an AI-powered sports video intelligence platform already trusted by the New York Liberty, EuroLeague, Overtime Elite, and Google, which is working to democratize the kind of pro-level analytics once reserved for only the biggest organizations in the world. C.J., alongside fellow PAC members Greg Oden and Larry Hall, even presented AirPlay on the PAC Investment Deal Flow Forum, one of the more distinctive rooms in the PAC community, where a live company pitch is followed by candid discussion with seasoned investors. C.J. helps make introductions across his network and connects the company with potential investors.
Why PAC
C.J. joined PAC about two years ago after a referral from fellow member Cory Higgins, attending his first summit in Scottsdale. What's kept him engaged is the community of athletes who've walked a similar path and share a drive to keep growing — along with the breadth of resources PAC offers, whether or not a given member's interests lie in real estate, podcasting, or something else entirely. He regularly refers other athletes to the organization and has built genuine relationships and business connections through it, including his advisory role with Synergy Sports Capital.
PAC's been great for me. What I love most is that it's other athletes. Guys who've been in your shoes before, who've gone through the same situations, good or bad, and who have that same mindset to keep getting better. PAC also gives you so many different avenues. There's always a resource to point you to. I always refer people to PAC. It's been a great thing for me, being part of the community, meeting people, and networking.
C.J. Watson
Read More Stories
Shaq Calhoun
Shaq Calhoun was a standout offensive lineman at Mississippi State, where he started 38 games and helped anchor one of the top offensive lines in the SEC. After proving himself at the college level, he went on to play in the NFL.
Tanner McCalister
Tanner McCalister is a Cleveland Browns defensive back determined to carve out a long NFL career while building a future beyond the game through real estate, finance, and personal growth.
David Fales
Former NFL quarterback David Fales now thrives in Arizona, balancing a career in tech sales and quarterback coaching while prioritizing health, family, and continuous personal growth.
Jamel Dean
Jamel Dean is dedicated to expanding his knowledge across diverse areas, from learning Spanish, diving into commercial real estate, or starting a trucking company. He loves getting to know fans on a personal level & creating memories they will cherish forever.
Devin McCourty
Locked in on the next phase of life, Devin McCourty is deeply committed to family and advocacy. Transitioning to his role as a sports analyst hasn’t diminished his dedication to uplifting marginalized communities, focusing on family, and making a difference.