Juju Watkins, the 20-year-old USC basketball star, has become the first female athlete to co-design a signature shoe in LeBron James's NXXT Gen line. The exclusive LeBron NXXT Gen collaboration debuted in February 2026 with a Silver Lining colorway. It will release for $170 in summer 2026 on nike.com and select retailers.
Juju Watkins collaborated with LeBron James and Nike Basketball designers to create the LeBron NXXT Gen shoe, tailored to her explosive playing style. As the Naismith Trophy winner and highest-scoring freshman in NCAA women's basketball history, Watkins signed one of the richest endorsement deals in women's basketball with Nike in October 2024. The shoe features a premium jewel Swoosh, quilted flower pattern in the collar, 16mm performance laces, double-row stitching, and an embroidered 'By JuJu' doodle on the tongue.
The debut Silver Lining colorway includes Metallic Silver, Light Crimson, and Chalk, inspired by Watkins's story of finding light in tough moments. It incorporates a full-length Nike React foam midsole for energy return, forefoot Air Zoom units for bounce, a flexible leather upper, and TPU support for stability during cuts, drives, and jump shots.
LeBron James commented, “This shoe gives her one more tool to chart her own path on and off the court.” Watkins added, “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.”
The design honors Watkins's hometown of Watts, Los Angeles, with future colorways planned to celebrate her neighborhood roots and USC ties using red and crimson palettes. In February 2026, Nike hosted an event in Watts where Watkins gifted pairs to her USC teammates and former Sierra Canyon squad members.
This partnership marks a shift in the industry, giving women athletes more design input. Watkins also has endorsements with Ritz Crackers, Degree, United Airlines, and NYX Cosmetics, but the Nike deal allows her to shape products and branding.
