LeBron James And Nike Tease JuJu Watkins' NXXT Gen Sneaker

In October 2024, Nike signed USC star JuJu Watkins to a multiyear contract extension, and ESPN’s Shams Charania reported at the time that it was “one of the richest shoe endorsement deals in women’s basketball.”

While Watkins hasn’t played since tearing her ACL in March 2025, her star power hasn’t waned. The anticipation for her first Nike signature sneaker couldn’t be higher. Nike announced LeBron NXXT Gen by JuJu - co-created by Watkins and LeBron James - in February. It was a generic press release but disclosed that the sneaker would drop this summer.

On Friday, Nike Basketball posted an ad starring Watkins to tease more details.

“I may be out, but I’m still locked in,” Watkins says in the spot. “They think my game is on ice, but I never stopped working.”

James reposted it on X, writing, “Very much so!!!” alongside five flame emojis and one flex emoji.

Watkins announced herself as one of the best players in the country when she averaged 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.6 blocks for USC in the 2023-24 season, earning her Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. USC reached the Elite 8 for the first time since 1994.

Watkins followed that up by winning the Big Ten Player of the Year and the Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year before tearing her ACL in 2025. USC reached the Elite 8 for a second straight year, where they fell to UConn for a second straight year.

USC was without Watkins for all of last season but still made the women’s NCAA Tournament at 18-14. Despite a second-round exit, the main takeaway from the Trojans’ season was the emergence of freshman guard Jazzy Davidson. Fans are fantasizing about a Davidson-Watkins backcourt next season.

Watkins got some shots up during Team USA training camp at the beginning of April and told reporters, “I’ll be ready for next season.”

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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 5:45 PM.