JuJu Watkins’ statistical output is matched only by LeBron James

JuJu is earning her place.

JuJu Watkins and LeBron James can genuinely be mentioned in the same sentence. That might seem like hyperbole. It might also seem like an attention-getting device. Why compare a young women’s basketball star who is not yet 20 years old to an NBA legend and future Hall of Famer? It might seem hyperbolic or unnecessary to the casual fan, the kind of comparison which seems out of place. However, when you look at the raw numbers and see the statistical output of the two players, you quickly realize that JuJu Watkins is earning her place.

It’s not embellishment to say she belongs in the same sentence with LeBron James. It’s just a plain, numerical fact.

Check this out: In six statistical categories — points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocked shots, and victories — JuJu Watkins and LeBron James are the only players to record a specific level of elite production in any six-game span of college or pro basketball, men or women.

The fact that JuJu Watkins’ six games stack up against any six-game span in LeBron’s career is crazy enough in its own right. The fact that this six-game span is comprised of JuJu’s first six games in college at USC is even more remarkable.

What we also need to emphasize here is that while JuJu Watkins is a scoring machine, with four 30-point games in her first six games for USC, she is making substantial contributions in those other categories. She helps out on the boards. She’s a brilliant passer. She plays strong defense.

She wins.

Comparing JuJu to LeBron might seem foolish to the casual observer, but as soon as you look at the stat sheet and also realize how greatly JuJu is transforming her USC team — the way LeBron transformed the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers — it quickly becomes apparent: This comparison is a substantive one.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire.