Williams Brothers Swap Jerseys After Jazz-Thunder Game

SALT LAKE CITY—The Oklahoma City Thunder may have won the game, but it was a victory for the Williams family, with Cody and Jalen taking an NBA court together for the first time. OKC leaves with the 130-107 win, but the experience is undoubtedly something the brothers will never forget.

The Jazz (13-42) hosted the Western Conference-leading OKC Thunder (45-10) at Delta Center on Friday, February 21. The Jazz are half a game better than New Orleans in the West but have the third-worst record in the league.

Jalen and Cody Williams met up after the #ThunderUp vs #UtahJazz game for a jersey swap. And Jazz Bear had a message for Jalen.#TakeNote @KSLSports pic.twitter.com/YwarMGkjjr

— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_TV) February 22, 2025

The elder Williams, an All-Star for the first time over the weekend, contributed 18 points, nine boards, four assists, two steals, and a block in the win. Cody played 16 minutes for Utah. He ended the night with three points and three rebounds.

Williams’ Brothers are eager to face each other on an NBA court

Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams is a 6’6, 220-pound wing in his third season after being the 12th overall selection in the 2022 NBA draft out of Santa Clara, the same school that produced Steve Nash decades ago.

A budding star on one of the league’s most exciting teams, Williams was selected as an All-Star for the first time this year. He is also the older brother of Jazz rookie forward Cody Williams.

Cody and Jalen face each other on the court tonight for the first time ever in a professional game 👀

Make sure to tune in to tonight’s game on KJZZ & JAZZ+ to catch the full sit-down interview with the Williams brothers 🫶#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/xkWXI7z8ct

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 21, 2025

Cody, a 6’7, 190-pound guard, has a long way to go before reaching his brother’s success. Still, Utah is banking on Cody’s development being similar to his older sibling’s meteoric rise.

The elder Williams played 75 games as a rookie. He finished second to Paolo Banchero in Rookie of the Year voting after averaging 14.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.4 steals.

Cody hasn’t come close to reaching those marks through 29 games. Fresh off of his freshman season at Colorado, Cody averages 3.9 points, two rebounds, and 1.3 assists with poor shooting numbers.

a moment for the handshake 🤝 https://t.co/0ArnIHyok9 pic.twitter.com/Br6GHQ4EDw

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 22, 2025

It’s important to note that Jalen played three years of college basketball, gaining significantly more strength and experience before ascending to the NBA. While Jalen was 21 when OKC picked him, Cody turned 20 a day after the Jazz lost on the road to LeBron James and the Lakers.

Williams is perhaps the most important player on the Jazz roster, considering the season-ending leg fracture suffered by Taylor Hendricks, last season’s first-round selection. If the former Buffalo can scratch the ceiling his brother has reached, Danny Ainge and the Jazz may have hit a home run in an otherwise down draft.

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Follow the Utah Jazz with KSL Sports

Tonight’s game against the Thunder is being televised on KJZZ, streamed on SEG+, and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.

Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky. 

Find KSLSports.com coverage of the Utah Jazz here.

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Brian Preece is a KSLSports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X and Instagram at @bpreece24.