Jaylin Williams is staying put in Oklahoma City after the Thunder signed the 6-foot-8 forward/center to a three-year, $24 million extension on his 23rd birthday on Sunday.
Landing the deal: The Vietnamese American big man made NBA history earlier this month as the league’s first player of Vietnamese descent to win a championship. Oklahoma City declined his $2.1 million option for the 2025–26 season and replaced it with a deal that includes a club option in the third year.
Key stats from title run: The Thunder drafted Williams in the second round (34th overall) in 2022 out of Arkansas. During the 2024–25 championship season he appeared in 47 games (nine starts), averaging 5.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists, while shooting 39.9 percent from 3-point range. He saw key minutes during the Western Conference Finals and contributed crucial rebounds in the Finals.
Why the deal matters: Locking in Williams strengthens the Thunder’s depth and preserves continuity in their rotation. His combination of size, high basketball IQ and floor spacing makes him a versatile contributor in coach Mark Daigneault’s system and a key piece of their evolving championship core.
This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.
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