Links may be affiliated.
USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins is launching her own iteration of the LeBron NXXT Gen sneaker, becoming the first athlete to co-create the design of a basketball shoe within the LeBron NXXT Gen platform.
The pair features a leather upper, a full-length Nike React foam midsole and forefoot Air Zoom units. Every surface of the shoe bends light differently, reminding athletes that adversity is often just another angle, and growth happens in the shadows. JuJu’s personal design touches include 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. Paying homage to her hometown, Watts, Los Angeles, the design reflects her roots and community.
“Working with LeBron to co-create a first is wild,” says JuJu. “It’s built for my game, my story. Shaping something to share with the next generation of hoopers means everything.”
LeBron is celebrating the young athlete as a defining force for the future of the game while 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,” says LeBron. “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.”
In addition to this “Silver Lining” colorway, future iterations of the NXXT Gen by JuJu will further pay tribute to Watts, Los Angeles, and JuJu’s second home at the nearby University of Southern California.
The JuJu Watkins x LeBron NXXT Gen “Silver Lining” will be available globally this summer on nike.com and at select retailers. Check them out below.
JuJu Watkins x Nike LeBron NXXT Gen “Silver Lining”
Color: Metallic Silver/Light Crimson-Chalk
Style Code: IQ8495-002
Release Date: Summer 2026
Price: $170 USD
Resell: GOAT
