JuJu Watkins On ‘Podcast P With Paul George’

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JuJu Watkins waxes poetic on March Madness, 51-point game, and idolizing Candace Parker, Cheryl Miller, and more on “Podcast P with Paul George”.

We share this week’s episode of “Podcast P with Paul George”, presented by Wave Sports + Entertainment, where PG and the guys are joined by USC women’s basketball star, JuJu Watkins who reflects on her breakout freshman season including winning the last-ever PAC-12 Championship game, getting her first taste of the NCAA Tournament and the embracing the learning curve of collegiate hoops.

Later in the episode, Juju talks about gaining valuable advice from USC basketball legend Cheryl Miller on managing expectations on and off the court.

She also looks back on her 51-point game vs. Stanford and what it felt like to be that locked in during a game.

Lastly, she also shares her admiration for Candace Parker and her aspirations in the entertainment industry, particularly in acting.

At the end of the episode, JuJu flips the script and asks PG about pacing and game tempo where he shares more about his evolution as a player.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 7:39 – JUJU ON WINNING THE LAST PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

PG:If you had to pick a moment that stood out about this past season, what would that be?

JUJU:I mean the 51 [point game] is just insane. It’s just insane. But besides that I would probably say we won the PAC-12 Championship and it’s like the last PAC-12 ever. So that was something to go down in the books and to do that with my team is really cool.

  • 9:19 – JUJU ON HER FIRST NCAA TOURNAMENT AND TAKEAWAYS FOR NEXT SEASON

JUJU:I think the tournament– I mean it gets harder as you progress more on the line game plans become even more detailed and everybody’s really locked in because one and done. I would say as far as like, what’s being thrown at me on the defensive end and stuff like that. I mean of course it gets harder as the season progresses but for me, it was just my first experience so I just didn’t really know what to expect going into it and I guess just tried to make the most out of it. And really take everything in and know what to expect for the next couple of years.

  • 11:33 – JUJU ON POTENTIALLY BEING SEEN AS THE NEXT FACE OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF CAITLIN CLARK, ANGEL REESE, CAMERON BRINK PAIGE BUECKERS AND OTHERS

DALLAS:I’m sure you’re aware of the popularity of women’s basketball increasing over the last several years and you’re – especially next year with Caitlin [and others] gone it’s gonna be all you. Do you feel pressure, is it exciting? What is that feeling like knowing you’re the face of Women’s College Basketball here?

JUJU:Whoa. That’s a big title. I wouldn’t be considered the person I am without my competition. The comp is everything. The conferences, the great teams. That’s really what matters, who you’re playing that’s also a factor in how great you are. So I wouldn’t say I’m doing it alone. There are great teams and so many great players and I’m glad I get to play against them.

  • 13:32 – JUJU ON THE CONVERSATIONS AND ADVICE SHE’S RECEIVED FROM CHERYL MILLER

JUJU:I would say Cheryl Miller we’ve had great conversations. She told me to find a safe space where I can just, you know, be free of all expectations…so [I’m] still working on that and just making sure I’m good, you know? On and off the court.

  • 15:06 – JUJU ON HER 51 POINT GAME AGAINST STANFORD: “YOU DON’T SEE DEFENDERS”

JUJU:I think I went on a crazy run where I just didn’t miss. And I don’t know– you know, you just in the zone.

PG:And we saw it, and watching it live, it’s like there’s nothing they can do with her.

JUJU:You block out everything, you don’t see no defenders and you just start shooting and making it…like zen.

  • 24:15 – JUJU SHARES HER IDOL IS CANDACE PARKER, RECALLS WATCHING HER

JUJU:I would say [I idolized] Candace Parker, I grew up watching her [on] the [Los Angeles] Sparks and I just fell in love with her game and her versatility. I always say I try and apply that to my game, like try to make it more versatile, get in the post more.

  • 33:34 – JUJU SHARES HER ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY ASPIRATIONS

JUJU:I wish I could do what Flau’jae does if I’m being real. I don’t really have bars like that. I would say entertainment, yeah, maybe acting. I feel like stuff like that kinda comes natural to me than most. So that’s always been cool, stepping outside of basketball and doing something different in that industry.

  • 37:32 – JUJU ASKS PG ABOUT WHEN HE STARTED TO SLOW THE PACE OF HIS GAME DOWN

JUJU:I’m a big fan of your pace. Was that something you always had or when did you start to slow the game down?

PG:Honestly, what changed for me, obviously, my first couple of years was built off my athleticism and just feeling like I was invincible, I could run through a wall. Honestly, I don’t think I had pace, it was all happening naturally, just being young, being youthful, being able to fly around, jump out the gym, all of that stuff. It didn’t happen until after I got injured and I broke my leg and I sat out and watched the game from the sidelines… It was almost like I was playing mentally while watching from the sidelines. So when I came back, that applied to me now…that’s when I realized, I gotta be a little bit more smarter because I don’t have that burst right now, I don’t have that quick step, I don’t have that athleticism right now. So the game literally slowed down for me. That’s kinda when I realized changing the tempo, how to play fast and slow down… it was learning my cadence. I would say that was the biggest jump for me on understanding to play at my pace. Let alone the team’s pace. The team plays at a certain pace…but when I have the ball, or if I’m in scoring opportunities, now the game is going to be played at my pace.