"She had it all figured out": Kim Mulkey defends the ability of Flau'jae Johnson to manage a rap career while playing for LSU as a top athlete

LSU coach Kim Mulkey was all praise for the excellence of LSU star Flau'jae Johnson in basketball and rap. She said that Johnson was special in terms of talent and figured out how to follow her dual passions before she even came to LSU.

Mulkey shared her views in the press conference ahead of the first LSU practice session. The conference was held at 1 PM on Monday before LSU returned to practice inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Monday.

The coach was asked if the passion for basketball that Flau'jae Johnson has gets overlooked and she replied:

"Not by me. That kid is one of the more talented kids I've ever coached. I think what gets overlooked is I am amazed at how good she is at both and how much time it takes at both to be good. Not just average, just ... she's just good. And she just got it all figured out but she had figured out when she got here."

Mulkey praised the work ethic and leadership qualities of Flau'jae Johnson. She added that Flau'jae doesn't get tired and has a joyous heart.

Flau'jae has Johnson played for two seasons at LSU. In the last season, she averaged 14.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. She shot 50.4% from the field and 38% from the 3-point range.

She was named McDonald's All-American in 2022 and SEC Freshman of the Year in 2023.

Her father was a rapper and was tragically killed in 2003 when he was about to sign a major deal. The incident took place six months before Flau'jae's birth.

The LSU star has made huge exploits in the rap genre. She signed a distribution deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation. Her song 'Big 4' has 1.4 million views on YouTube already.

Johnson laid bare her motivation for putting in extra hours to hone her craft in rap, per ESPN:

"I feel like his legacy was cut short. It was taken from him. That's why I sometimes feel like it's my duty to finish what he started."

Kim Mulkey on what makes Flau'jae Johnson different

The LSU coach Kim Muley praised the devotion of Flau'jae Johnson to creativity. She shared her observations about how Johnson starts her rap journey when she concludes her basketball practice, per ESPN:

"Most college students. They practice. They eat. They study and go to bed. Flau'jae's just getting started when practice on the court is over. If you ever go into her dorm room, you're just going to be witnessing what she does. She starts creating ... and she's very good at it."

Following her passions in sports and music has made her the top earner among college basketball players. With a $1.3 million NIL valuation, per On3, Johnson earns more than JuJu Watkins and Paige Bueckers.