Jaylin Williams

Williams is an American forward who entered the NBA as a second-round pick in 2022 and has developed into a rotation player for the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he won an NBA championship in 2025. He is the first NBA player of Vietnamese descent and has carved out a role as a defensive-minded big man with playmaking vision.

Born Jaylin Michael Williams on June 29, 2002, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Williams is the son of Michael Williams, a former high school basketball star, and Linda Williams, who was born in Saigon and moved to the United States in 1975 after the Vietnam War. He attended Northside High School in Fort Smith alongside future NBA teammate Isaiah Joe. As a junior, he averaged 16 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks and led Northside to the Class 6A state title, earning tournament MVP with 20 points and 16 rebounds. As a senior, he averaged 18.7 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.5 blocks and was named Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year and Arkansas Division I Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

At Arkansas, Williams averaged 3.7 points and 4.7 rebounds as a freshman before becoming a regular starter as a sophomore. He averaged 10.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, earned first-team All-SEC honors from the coaches, and was named second-team All-SEC by the Associated Press and to the All-Defensive Team. He led NCAA Division I with 54 charges drawn and set an Arkansas single-season record with 364 rebounds. He declared for the NBA draft and opted to forgo his remaining eligibility.

The Oklahoma City Thunder selected Williams with the 34th overall pick in the 2022 draft. In the same draft, the Thunder selected similarly-named Jalen Williams, and fans nicknamed Jaylin J-Will and Jalen J-Dub to differentiate them. Williams signed with the Thunder on July 19, 2022. On March 7, 2025, he recorded his first career triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in a win over Portland. He won an NBA championship with the Thunder in 2025.

Williams is a power forward and center with a high basketball IQ, defensive positioning, and playmaking vision. He draws charges at an elite rate, sets solid screens, and facilitates for others from the elbows and short roll. His rebounding instincts and willingness to take on physical matchups make him a valuable rotation big in a small-ball lineup.

Williams enters each season as a key rotation piece for the Thunder, with an NBA championship ring and a historic charge-drawing record on his resume. His trajectory from a Fort Smith high school to a record-setting Arkansas sophomore and a second-round pick reflects a blend of defensive intelligence, playmaking creativity, and a willingness to embrace a role built on hustle and team success.