The NIL system has completely changed how Nike courts basketball talent. No longer does the Swoosh need to wait until hoopers are on the cusp of the professional ranks to start formal agreements. They can begin far earlier, and we’re continuing to see the brand outdo itself when it comes to welcoming athletes to the family.
If you haven’t heard the name JuJu Watkins yet, you’re about to. The women’s basketball phenom is the way-too-early favorite to go #1 overall in the 2027 WNBA Draft and looks poised to make an immediate impact on whatever team she winds up on, not unlike fellow NIL signees Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers. Nike saw the talent early, inking Watkins to an endorsement deal shortly after the start of her college career. She became just the second NIL athlete to launch a player-edition Nike sneaker last year, dropping a USC-themed take on the GT Cut 3 Turbo. Applaudable as that milestone was, it pales in comparison to today’s headline.
Nike Basketball has unveiled the Nike LeBron NXXT Gen by JuJu, making JuJu the first athlete to design a sneaker within the LeBron NXXT Gen platform. The updated model (also coined the LeBron NXXT Gen Future) features flexible leather and TPU across the upper, while a full-length Nike React midsole and forefoot Air Zoom bag anchor the cushioning setup. Key personal touches include a premium jewel Swoosh, a quilted flower pattern on the inner collar and tongue, and an embroidered “By JuJu” doodle on the back of the tongue. This “Silver Lining” colorway pays homage to Watkins’ home neighborhood of Watts in Los Angeles, perhaps nodding to the Watts Towers, which are constructed from steel rebar. More JuJu Watkins styles are expected to follow, including another tribute to Watts as well as a USC-inspired look.
Perhaps more important than any single release is the fact that Nike is turning the LeBron NXXT Gen series into an incubator for incoming talent, fitting given its name. JuJu is the first to design a sneaker within the NXXT Gen family, but she almost certainly won’t be the last. We’ve been wondering how Nike plans to manage the LeBron James brand as The King flirts with retirement, and this feels like a natural way of passing the torch to the incoming class.
The Nike LeBron NXXT by JuJu drops Summer 2026 via Nike.com and select retailers, though no concrete date or MSRP has been set as of this writing. Know that our Sneaker Release Dates page will be kept current with all available info.
© Sneaker News, 2026. |
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The post Nike Unveils The LeBron NXXT Gen By JuJu "Silver Lining"
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