Is Cody Williams brother of OKC Thunder's Jalen Williams? 2024 NBA Draft top prospects' family & more explored
Colorado Buffaloes forward Cody Williams is the brother of OKC Thunder star Jalen Williams. Cody is entering the 2024 NBA draft, per ESPN’s NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski. He spent one season at Colorado and is expected to go in the lottery.
Williams’ brother, Jalen, is a star forward on the No. 1 seed OKC Thunder and was in contention for the most improved player of the year. Jalen played three seasons at Santa Clara before entering the NBA draft.
Jalen scored 19.1 points per game this season. Many believe he is trending toward All-Star status, as he was a huge part of the Thunder’s incredible season.
The Williams brothers grew up in Arizona with their parents, Ronald and Nicole Williams. Both of their parents were members of the United States Air Force.
Cody Williams grew up in Gilbert, Arizona. He won two straight state championships during his high school career, playing for Perry. He was a five-star recruit and was named a McDonald’s All-American in his senior year.
Cody Williams draft prospects
Colorado’s Cody Williams is a projected lottery pick and is No. 10 on ESPN’s top 100 draft board. Williams is one of the best defenders in the draft. He is 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan.
His length and versatility as a perimeter defender will be one of the main reasons NBA scouts are eyeing Williams early in the draft. He also displayed a lot of intensity and effort on the defensive end.
He has a high basketball IQ on both ends, as he can make good defensive reads and also act as a playmaker.
Williams averaged 11.9 points per game in college and was efficient in attack, shooting 55.2% from the field in his first season at Colorado. He was also 41.5% from 3-point range. He could fit in perfectly as a 3-and-D wing at the next level, while also being a solid catch-and-shoot threat.
Williams is also explosive with the ball, as he can beat defenders down the floor on fast breaks. He has the athleticism to dunk on defenders and attack the glass with ferocity, helped by his unreal leaping ability.
In the NCAA Tournament, Williams showed off his skills to create his own shot. This will be tough against NBA defenders, but he has promise.
Cody Williams once went on a streak of nine games in college where he scored in double figures. He scored a career and season-high 23 points against the Pac-12 champion Oregon Ducks on Jan. 18. He went 10 of 13 from the field in the win.
Williams will go to a team that needs depth on the wings. He could also help a team that needs to improve their defense or requires shooting off the bench.