The basketball world held its collective breath when USC star JuJu Watkins crumpled to the court during the Trojans’ NCAA Tournament victory over Mississippi State. The devastating diagnosis, a torn ACL, brought flashbacks of another basketball icon’s injury, Klay Thompson’s 2019 Finals misfortune that sidelined him for over 900 days.
Youth vs. Experience: Age Factors in JuJu Watkins’ Recovery
Watkins, a sophomore phenom averaging 24.6 points per game and on pace to shatter collegiate scoring records, now faces the daunting path of rehabilitation just as her meteoric rise is reaching its apex.
With the Trojans advancing to the Sweet 16 despite her absence, questions linger about whether her recovery journey will mirror Thompson’s prolonged ordeal or follow a more standard timeline.
At just 19 years old, Watkins has significant biological advantages over Thompson who was 29 when he suffered his ACL tear. Younger athletes typically experience faster tissue healing and face less accumulated wear and tear on their bodies, potentially accelerating Watkins’ return to the court compared to the veteran NBA star’s timeline.
However, Thompson’s experience navigating professional setbacks provided mental resilience during his rehabilitation process, a quality the college sophomore will need to develop quickly.
While biology favors Watkins, the psychological challenges of a career-threatening injury at such a pivotal moment shouldn’t be underestimated in her recovery equation.
Thompson’s recovery saga wasn’t defined by his ACL tear alone. It was his subsequent Achilles rupture during rehabilitation that extended his absence to 30 months. This catastrophic second injury occurred just as he was preparing to return to NBA action, demonstrating how precarious the recovery process can be.
Watkins currently faces no reported additional injuries giving her a clearer path to the standard 6 to 9 months of recovery timeline.
If she undergoes surgery by early April 2025, she could potentially return between October and December, also possibly in time for USC’s 2025-26 season, assuming she avoids the compensatory injuries that derailed Thompson’s journey.
Will Watkins Return Stronger?
The parallels between these two basketball stars extend beyond their injuries. Both suffered ACL tears at crucial moments: Watkins during USC’s tournament run and Thompson during the NBA Finals.
Both play guard positions that require explosive movements and agility, making full recovery essential to maintaining their playing styles.
Yet their circumstances differ significantly. Watkins benefits from 2025’s advanced medical approaches, unburdened by the pandemic-era restrictions that complicated Thompson’s rehabilitation.
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Her collegiate status also provides a more flexible timeline than Thompson’s NBA pressures, allowing a potentially more cautious approach to minimize re-injury risks.
The basketball community will closely monitor whether she can avoid Thompson’s setbacks and return to All-American form, maintaining her trajectory toward WNBA stardom without losing the explosive ability that made her one of college basketball’s most electric performers.
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