Former NBA champ Stephen Jackson weighs in on JuJu Watkins-Paige Bueckers clash (Image credit: Imagn)
JuJu Watkins and the USC Trojans picked up a narrow 72-70 win over Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies on Saturday. With Bueckers expected to be the top pick of the 2026 WNBA draft and Watkins expected to make the jump to the WNBA level after the 2026-27 season, all eyes were on the two standouts when they went head-to-head.
Watkins shined with 25 points, while Bueckers logged 22. The way former NBA champion Stephen Jackson sees things, Watkins is already ready for the pro game. On "All The Smoke" on Tuesday, Jackson and his co-host Matt Barnes discussed Watkins' WNBA eligibility.
Currently, women are required to be graduating seniors or 22 years old before being eligible for the WNBA draft.
"Well, I think you know me; I look at it differently," Jackson said (Timestamp: 5:00). "I think she's definitely ready for the WNBA now. She could be the face of changing that rule. Why shouldn't she be? ... I've always felt like if you can go to war at 18 and put your life on the line, you should be able to take care of your family and play a sport at 18 as well."
