The USC star makes history alongside LeBron James and Nike, blending performance, style, and personal design touches that reflect her roots and elevate women’s basketball.
Women’s basketball is in a growth phase that’s impossible to ignore. From record TV ratings and sold-out arenas watching the world’s best play 3-on-3 hoops, to NIL deals at the college level and signature footwear moments that reflect real investment in the women’s game. JuJu Watkins sits at the center of this phenomenon. And now, the USC superstar is making history with one of Nike Basketball‘s most recognizable athletes.
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At just 20 years old, Watkins has designed the LeBron NXXT Gen by JuJu to further enhance the remarkable speed and control that defines her game, making history as the first athlete to co-create a shoe within LeBron James‘ NXXT Gen platform.
Speaking with media at the Nike Watts store in LA on Wednesday, Watkins simply called the process of designing the sneaker “crazy,” adding that “never in my life did I think I’d have my name attached to anything having to do with LeBron James.”
The significance goes beyond a new colorway or a co-sign. Within the business of women’s basketball, access to design equity and authorship signals where brands see the future. Nike invested in Watkins long before the world knew of her prowess. They identified the greatness while she was still at Sierra Canyon School, and now a lot of folks are simply catching up to The Swoosh. Watkins isn’t simply endorsing a model; she’s helping to shape how women see themselves on the court.
Watkins worked alongside an expert team of Nike Basketball designers to create a trainer that emphasizes durability and comfort while maintaining a modern aesthetic that pays homage to her upbringing in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. On the court, Watkins plays with patience, control, and grit. She attacks downhill, absorbs contact, and creates separation in tight spaces. That required a build focused on balance; think responsiveness without sacrificing stability.
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The final result is a fine-tuned balance of court feel and spring that enables her ability to both drive downhill and create her own shot from distance, sinking field goal after field goal before coming up with a crucial block on the other side of the hardwood. The silhouette features a full-length Nike React foam midsole that promises elite responsiveness for quick, precise cuts from anywhere on the court. A pair of forefoot Air Zoom units delivers the bounce required for explosive plays with or without the ball. A flexible leather upper pairs with durable TPU support beneath to deliver ridiculous cushioning and stability on every play, while the midsole and outsole construction deliver a futuristic yet classic look.
For women’s basketball athletes, that versatility is crucial. The contemporary game demands guards who can score at all three levels and wings who can defend multiple positions. Footwear constructed for speed, lateral control, and impact absorption shouldn’t be viewed as a luxury, but as standard equipment.
Watkins’ personal design touches reinforce ownership. She hinted at Easter eggs in Watts, so keep an eye out for a premium jewel Swoosh, 16mm performance laces, double-row stitching, a quilted flower pattern on the interior collar and tongue, and an embroidered “By JuJu” doodle on the back of the tongue. She means business when she laces up, but there’s nothing wrong with bringing a little personality while crushing the competition. As for the most interesting part of the design process, Watkins said it was just starting from scratch, the freedom of working with a blank canvas, and the amount of effort that goes into bringing a sneaker to life.
“They [Nike] had shown me a lot of renderings, and I couldn’t really grasp it,” she said. “So it was definitely crazy to be a part of the process where you could really see how it all comes together in real time.”
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The Women’s Game Gets Design Equity
The debut Silver Lining colorway only affirms Watkins’ story and style. She explained how she’s always been fixated on that shade, so much so that most of her wardrobe consists of silver and grey. On a deeper level, Silver Lining also symbolizes the ability to turn to her community to find light in the most difficult moments. Every surface of the shoe bends light differently, reminding those who face adversity that it is often just another angle and that growth happens in the shadows.
That message tracks with the trajectory of women’s basketball itself. The sport has grown through underinvestment and limited visibility into a commercial force driving apparel sales, media deals, and cultural relevance. Not only are they dominating on the court, but these players have also become influences in their own right and, when necessary, activists. Innovations like this reflect that shift from participation to prioritization.
Jeffrey Becker / Imagn Images
Upcoming colorways pay additional tribute to Watts and Watkins’ second home at USC, two ecosystems that are forever attached to her ascent. In today’s college landscape, where top women’s basketball players command national attention and major endorsement portfolios, authenticity and community alignment are strategic advantages.
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This attention to elevated storytelling and detail mirrors James’ dedication to tailored athlete expression, pinnacle innovation, and premium off-court style. By working together to co-create the new NXXT Gen silhouette, James, who is arguably a couple of years (or less) from calling it a career, is celebrating Watkins as a defining authority for the future of the game and reinforcing his longstanding commitment to giving back to the next generation.
“JuJu is a great ambassador of today’s game, and this shoe gives her one more tool to chart her own path on and off the court,” James said. “Nike footwear has been another way for me to share my story with athletes and fans around the world, so it’s exciting to share the NXXT Gen platform with JuJu for a shoe that will inspire a new generation of hoopers to put in the work and believe in themselves.”
The co-creation also signals something broader within the sneaker economy. James’ signature line has historically represented performance credibility and commercial scale. Opening the NXXT Gen platform to a rising women’s basketball star underscores where Nike sees sustained growth and who it trusts to drive it. For younger athletes watching the women’s college game surge in popularity, moments like this normalize access. Signature influence, design collaboration, storytelling control — these are no longer limited lanes.
In a market where women’s basketball is building measurable business value year over year, this release is less about hype and more about positioning. JuJu Watkins isn’t just the face of a campaign. She’s co-authoring part of a platform tied to one of the most influential athletes in the sport, and that’s a concrete marker of where the women’s game stands right now.
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The LeBron NXXT Gen by JuJu will be available globally in the Silver Lining colorway this summer at Nike’s online store and select retailers.
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