Hall Of Fame Coach Is Getting Ripped For Ridiculous JuJu Watkins Claim
12/18/2024 12:14 PM
USC guard JuJu Watkins is a special talent, there's no question about it. However, former NBA coach George Karl may have gone a bit too far with his praise for the biggest name in college hoops.
On Tuesday afternoon, Karl revealed on social media that he believes Watkins is "even better" than Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. That might seem like a stretch, but there are plenty of people who feel that way. To be fair, Watkins has more size than Clark, and the talented sophomore can finish around the rim with more consistency. It's also possible that her game continues to improve. Despite being just 19 years old, she's averaging 26.5 points per game for her college career.
So, how did Karl go too far with his assessment of Watkins? He later said that she could compete in the NBA.
"As good as Caitlin Clark is, I'm thinking Juju Watkins may even be better," Karl wrote on X. "She looks to have the size, athleticism and talent to even compete in the NBA at some level."
Unsurprisingly, sports fans crushed Karl for this take. There aren't many people out there who actually believe Watkins could compete alongside NBA players.
"Compete in NBA you are out of your mind," one fan replied. "Yeah maybe bench spot in G league."
Another person said, "Compete in the NBA? You high old fella?"
"Tweets like this help me understand why you never won a championship," a third person commented.
"This reminds me of when people use to say Alabama could beat the worst NFL team. Just stop," a social media user wrote.
Watkins has not addressed Karl's bold claim on social media. She's currently getting ready for a marquee matchup against UConn. That game will be played on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
As of right now, Watkins is on track to break the record for most 30-points games through a player's first two years of college basketball. That record is currently held by Clark.
If Watkins breaks that record in the near future, Karl may feel inclined to double down on his take.
Related: Gilbert Arenas Says Caitlin Clark vs. JuJu Watkins Is No Debate
