Jalen Williams plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA as of March 2025. He can shift between small forward, power forward, and sometimes even shooting guard. Nicknamed "J-Dub," he was born on April 14, 2001, in Denver, Colorado, and grew up playing basketball at Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona, where he was a three-star recruit as per Rivals. Williams played college basketball at Santa Clara University from 2019 to 2022. In 2022, he was named First-Team All-WCC. That same year, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him 12th overall in the NBA Draft. This made him the highest-drafted player from Santa Clara since Ken Sears in 1955 and the first from Santa Clara to be drafted since Steve Nash in 1996.
In his rookie season, Williams made a strong impression, becoming the third Thunder player to win NBA Rookie of the Month. He was named the Rookie of the Month for October/November 2022 and again for March/April. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year race and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team with season averages of 14.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.4 steals on 52.1% shooting. In his sophomore season, 2023-24, Williams contributed to the Thunder's surprising rise to the top seed in the Western Conference. In the playoffs, he averaged 18.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game, as per Basketball Reference.
Jalen Williams’s Injury History
Entering his third NBA season in 2024-25 with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jalen Williams’ NBA career has been relatively healthy, with no major, long lay-off kind of injuries. However, a few minor setbacks have taken him out for short periods. Here’s a detailed look at his injury history —
Also read: Jalen Williams' Draft
Injuries Jalen Williams Sustained in the NBA
Eye Injury (2022 October)
Williams’ NBA debut on October 29, 2022, was cut short after he was elbowed in the eye just five minutes into the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The injury kept him out for four games, and he returned wearing a protective mask to safeguard the healing eye.
Reflecting on the injury, Williams revealed on the ‘Don’t Trip podcast’ the challenges of playing with a bloodshot, hazy vision and wearing a mask during his rookie year. In March, as his vision fully recovered, Williams reached peak form, averaging nearly 20 points, six rebounds, and four assists per game for the month as per the NBA's official website.
Hip Injury (2023 November)
During his sophomore season, Williams suffered a hip injury in an overtime win against the Golden State Warriors on November 18, 2023. The soreness became apparent the next day, leading him to miss three games while recovering, as per Basketball Reference.
Left Ankle Sprain (2024 April)
As the 2023-24 season neared its end, Williams sprained his left ankle in April during a critical period of the playoff race. This injury resulted in a four-game absence as per Basketball Reference.
Injuries Jalen Williams Sustained before the NBA
Foot Injury (2020 College Season)
During his time at Santa Clara, Williams sustained a foot injury in December 2020, which caused him to miss three games over a 20-day period as per his college profile. This injury limited him to just 18 games in his college season, though he fully recovered and continued to excel at the collegiate level.
Read more: Jalen Williams Playoffs History
FAQs on Jalen Williams
A. Jalen Williams’ wingspan is 7 feet 2 inches.
A. Jalen Williams’ NBA 2k25 rating is 89 as of March 2025.
A. Jalen Williams sports the No. 8 jersey for the OKC Thunder.
A. Jalen Williams is 23 years old as of March 2025. He was born on April 14, 2001.
A. Jalen Williams plays as a versatile wing. He can operate as a shooting guard or small forward.
A. Jalen Williams is 6 feet 6 inches tall.
