Jalen Williams, commonly known as "J-Dub," is one of the rising stars in the NBA. Born on April 14, 2001, he plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder as of November 2024. During his high school years at Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona, Williams went through an incredible physical transformation. He started as a 6-foot-tall point guard but grew five inches before graduating. Being rated as a three-star recruit, Williams chose Santa Clara University over other offers.
His college career at Santa Clara was filled with achievements. In his first game against UC Santa Cruz, Williams showed his all-around skills by scoring 13 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, dishing out 4 assists, and recording 2 steals. He earned multiple honors, including First Team All-WCC selection and Second Team NABC All-District recognition. He was even considered for the Lou Henson Award. The Oklahoma City Thunder selected Williams as the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft. He quickly proved his worth in the NBA, earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team. This achievement made him just the second Thunder player to receive this honor and the fifth in team history to make an All-Rookie team.
Jalen Williams Siblings
Jalen Williams has a younger brother, Cody Leron Williams. Born in San Luis Obispo, California, Cody grew up in Gilbert, Arizona, where he attended Perry High School – the same school as his brother Jalen. As a high school senior, Cody earned a spot in the prestigious 2023 McDonald's All-American Boys Game and represented Team USA in the Nike Hoops Summit. He was rated as a five-star recruit and made history by becoming Colorado's first five-star recruit and highest-ranked committed player ever.
In the 2024 NBA Draft, Cody was selected as the tenth overall pick in the first round by the Utah Jazz. He also represented his country as part of the United States under-19 basketball team at the 2023 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup, playing under Colorado head coach Tad Boyle.
FAQs on Jalen Williams
A. Jalen Williams plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA.
A. Jalen Williams wears #8 number for the Oklahoma city Thunder.
A. Jalen Williams is 6 feet 5 inches tall.
A. J-Dub is a nickname for Jalen Williams.