USC star JuJu Watkins has started her college basketball career with a bang, and her performance is even approaching LeBron James territory.
USC women’s basketball star JuJu Watkins is living up to expectations in her first year of college basketball. She played for the Trojans, averaging 26.8 points per game. She made her debut against the eighth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes and caught the attention of the basketball world, scoring 32 points in the upset victory. Now, she’s entering LeBron territory.
according to OptaStats shows that Watkins has accomplished the impressive feat in the first six games of his career. She scored 161 points, 45 rebounds, 19 assists, 14 steals, 8 blocks and 6 wins. In the past 20 years, only one other player in the NBA, WNBA or Division I men’s or women’s basketball has accomplished this feat in six games: LeBron James.
JuJu Watkins in first 6 games of her career @USCWBB:
161 steals, 45 rebounds, 19 steals, 14 steals, 8 steals, 6 wins
Only one other NBA, WNBA or Division I men’s or women’s player has reached all of those numbers in any six games over the past 20 years: LeBron James. pic.twitter.com/sBfzOEKT0J
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) November 29, 2023
Ironically, Watkins is doing this while LeBron’s son, Bronny James, is also a player on the Trojans men’s basketball team. Watkins is likely on the verge of a historic career as she continues her journey from college to the WNBA. She has surpassed WNBA Hall of Famer and former USC standout Lisa Leslie for the most 30-point games by a freshman with four games. Also worth noting is that she averaged 26.8 points per game, second only to Iowa star Caitlyn Clark’s 29.6 points per game.
Watkins will have more chances to win and put up a statistical mark as the Trojans continue a four-game homestand against Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 18.