Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans basketball player JuJu Watkins was on hand as she was named the tunnel captain the the game against the Michigan Wolverines at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

It’s An L.A. Thing: JuJu Watkins Becomes First Athlete To Co-Create LeBron NXXT Gen

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By Levi Omeke | Last updated Feb 12, 2026 5:52 PM ET

USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins is officially the first athlete to co-create a sneaker within the Nike LeBron NXXT Gen line. The “Silver Linings colorway arrives this summer, with additional tributes to Watts and USC on the way.

“Working with LeBron to co-create a first is wild. It’s built for my game, my story. Shaping something to share with the next generation of hoopers means everything,” Watkins stated.

The New Era Of Nike Hoops

The torch isn’t just being passed; it’s being shared. Seeing a USC legend like JuJu Watkins co-design a shoe within LeBron’s actual line is a massive shift for Nike and women’s basketball.

When icons invest in rising stars, it shifts the culture. This is not just about sneakers or branding; it is about inspiration, access, and showing young hoopers what is possible.

Love seeing Nike give Watkins her flowers and letting her represent her home neighborhood like this. From Watts to the world. The first co-designed silhouette in the NXXT Gen platform, the “Silver Lining” colorway, honors her Watts roots. Every Trojans teammate just got laced with a pair, courtesy of JuJu Watkins.

End Of My JuJu Watkins And LeBron James Rant

Michigan Wolverines guard Jordan Hobbs (10) takes a charge from USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) on Saturday, March 8, 2025, in a semifinals game at the 2025 TIAA Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Would never have guessed LeBron’s first athlete collaboration would have been with JuJu Watkins. This is a surprising crossover between the NBA and women’s college basketball.

Watkins will drop eight PE versions of the Nike LeBron NXT Gen. Four in Spring 2026 and another four in Summer 2026, each priced at $170.

This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

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