Born on June 29, 2002, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Jaylin Williams is an American professional basketball player who plays for the OKC Thunder. He is the backup option at the center position behind Chet Holmgren.
Williams attended Northside High School in Arkansas, where he led his school to multiple state finals. He won the class 6A State title, scoring 20 points and 16 rebounds in the title game and winning the MVP. After averaging 18.7 points and 12.2 rebounds as a senior, Williams was named Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year.
As a four-star recruit coming out of high school, Williams played two-years of college ball for the Arkansas Razorbacks. As a sophomore, he led the Arkansas team in blocks, rebounds and was second in steals, taking his team to the Elite-eight. He was then named on the SEC All-Defensive Team and First-team All-SEC by the coaches. His performances in the NCAA tournament earned him a place in the NCAA All-Region team, alongside Paolo Banchero.
In the 2023/24 season, Williams appeared in 69 games for the Thunder, and averaged 4.0 points and 3.4 rebounds.
Jaylin Williams Draft
Jaylin Williams was drafted with the 34th overall pick by the OKC Thunder in the 2022 NBA Draft. He was the first ever player of Vietnamese descent to be drafted in the NBA.
NBA analysts see Williams developing into a versatile center, who can shoot and make plays for his teammates. He averaged 1.6 assists and shot 36.8% from deep in the 2023/24 season.
Related: Jaylin Williams Contract
FAQ's On Jaylin Williams draft pick
A. Jaylin Williams was drafted 34th overall by the OKC Thunder in the 2022 NBA Draft.
A. Jaylin Williams plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
A. Jaylin Williams is 21 years old as of April 2024. He was born on June 29, 2002.
A. Jaylin Williams is an American national. His mother was of Vietnamese descent, making him the first player ever of Vietnamese descent to feature in the NBA.
A. Jaylin Williams played two years of college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
