JuJu Watkins, the USC Trojans guard, marked her 20th birthday on Tuesday, July 15. On this special occasion, she received well-wishes from several prominent figures in the basketball community. Among them was Rich Paul, the primary manager and close friend of four-time NBA champion LeBron James, who took to social media to celebrate her milestone.
Paul posted a photograph of himself with Watkins on his Instagram story, offering a succinct two-word tribute to the rising star in women’s basketball. With LeBron having played in Los Angeles since 2018, and Watkins hailing from the area and competing for USC over the past two seasons, it’s likely they’ve crossed paths on multiple occasions due to their close professional ties.
Watkins is currently recovering from an ACL injury that occurred during a match against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the second round of the 2025 NCAA tournament in March. Despite her early exit in the first half, USC triumphed over Mississippi State with a score of 96-59. The Trojans were among the frontrunners for the national championship this year, but Watkins’ injury significantly impacted their chances.
As it turned out, the Trojans advanced to the Elite Eight in March Madness, where they were defeated by the eventual national champions, the UConn Huskies, by a 14-point margin, 78-64—an unfortunate outcome that denied the opportunity for a rematch between Watkins and UConn star Paige Bueckers, a storyline dating back to their 2024 NCAA tournament contest.
LeBron James Proclaims JuJu Watkins a Star
In November 2024, ESPN reporter Alexa Philippou published an article in which LeBron James expressed admiration for Watkins and discussed her skill set. At the time, Watkins was embarking on her second year in collegiate basketball, and James referred to her as “a star,” acknowledging her potential and impact on the game.
“She’s already a star. The way she plays the game, how fierce of a competitor she is, what she represents…It’s everybody’s dream to be able to play with that passion, to be able to shoot the ball, rebound the ball, push the ball, handle the ball. And she wants to win. Everybody can gravitate toward that,” James noted.
Looking ahead, Watkins aims to make her comeback in the 2025-26 collegiate basketball season, although she might consider redshirting due to her injury. Throughout her time with the Trojans, she has averaged impressive statistics: 25.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game.
Image Source: Rich Paul @ Instagram
