There is freshness in the air right now with the dark clouds of CBA moving away and the timing matching with the exciting March Madness tournament, which allows fans to enjoy the basketball action to the fullest. One player who is also enjoying the action from the sidelines is Juju Watkins, who will complete one year of rehab on Tuesday and will be raring to get back on the court.
Still, during the rehab period, she received massive support from fans and brands as they backed her at every stage. LeBron James even had a special all-star weekend collaboration with Watkins , and the wait is over for the player and fans following the latest announcement from Nike.
Nike Hands Juju Watkins Her First Signature Shoe
During her off-court period, the explosive scorer continued to work with Nike on her shoe, the LeBron NXXT Gen by JuJu “Silver Lining.” While LBJ also gave his input, the player took the liberty to add her essence to the shoe design.
According to the sneaker giants’ update, she will receive the shoe line in the market during the upcoming Summer period.
USC star JuJu Watkins is making sneaker history.
— Sports Business Journal (@SBJ) March 23, 2026
Nike will drop her first signature shoe this summer, making her the first athlete with a signature pair under LeBron James's NXXT line, according to a report from The Athletic.
MORE: https://t.co/aIovRmoxQV pic.twitter.com/u7o1PO3uGZ
As per the details, a quilted flower pattern appears on the interior collar and tongue as her signature celebration, and also, the back of the tongue has a “By JuJu” doodle, which went viral during her active days. Also, she gave special attention to the laces as the model has 16 millimeters, slightly thicker than standard laces, highlighting a staple of Southern California culture.
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While the off-court action grabbed much attention, fans wanted to see her in action as early as possible, and Watkins also opened up on her slow-but-sure injury comeback and her USA basketball camp insights. She was ‘nearly’ on the court, though, as she celebrated her team’s recent exciting win over a higher-ranked side.
Juju Watkins’ Wild Celebration Goes Viral Following USC’s Recent Victory
The USC standout was on the sidelines supporting her team and backing the players to deliver on the court. With 53 seconds remaining, Kara Dunn’s layup gave USC a 60-59 advantage over Clemson. Her near game-winner received huge cheers from the fans, and Watkins also joined in with her surprised expression and extended his tongue.
JuJu Watkins x Jazzy Davidson will feed generations next year 😭🔥 https://t.co/bC8T6y363V pic.twitter.com/rcLclHtDAK
— Zero Gravity (@zgsportsmedia) March 21, 2026
Importantly, the USC side held on to the slender edge and won the game. While the side will now move to the Sweet 16 phase, they will face the top seed and arch-rivals South Carolina on Monday.