JuJu Watkins and LeBron James can indeed be mentioned in the same sentence. This may seem exaggerated. It might also look like an eye-catching device. Why compare a young women’s basketball star not yet 20 years old to an NBA legend and future Hall of Famer? To casual fans, this may seem exaggerated or unnecessary, and the comparison seems inappropriate. However, when you look at the raw numbers and look at the statistical output of both players, you quickly realize that JuJu Watkins is earning his spot.
To say she belongs in the same sentence as LeBron James is not an embellishment. It’s just a simple numerical fact.
Check this out: Across six statistical categories — points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and wins — JuJu Watkins and LeBron James are the only players to reach that specific elite level in six games in college or the pros. Basketball, men’s or women’s.
The fact that JuJu Watkins’ six-game stretch rivals any six-game stretch in LeBron’s career is crazy enough on its own. What’s even more remarkable is that these six games were JuJu’s first six in college at USC.
What we also need to emphasize here is that although JuJu Watkins is a scoring machine, scoring 30 points in four of USC’s first six games, she has also made huge contributions in other aspects. She helps on the board. She’s a great passer. Her defense is strong.
She won.
To the casual observer, comparing JuJu to LeBron may seem silly, but once you take a look at the stat sheet, you’ll realize how dramatically JuJu is changing her USC team — just like LeBron Changed the Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers alike – and it soon became clear: the comparison was substantial.
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
Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire and Ducks Wire.