Jalen Williams is ecstatic about the prospect of playing against his younger brother

J-Dub will play against his younger brother in the 2024/25 season.

Jalen Williams was present during the 2024 NBA Draft but was not representing the Oklahoma City Thunder that night. He was there for his brother, Cody Williams, who was a high-value prospect coming into Draft Night.

The Utah Jazz selected Cody with the tenth overall pick, which dashed the Williams brothers’ dreams of playing together in OKC. The Thunder had the 12th pick, so they missed out on the siblings playing together by two picks. Since they are not teammates, J-Dub is excited to play against his little brother when they go against the Utah Jazz.

“I did, I yelled at the TV yesterday. It’s coming up. We’re playing them in November, so they’re in our pool for the tournament. It’ll be cool,” Jalen said in a practice interview. “It’s already crazy watching them on TV. Yesterday, he FaceTimed me while on the flight, so a little stuff like that is crazy. It’s a cool experience; it’s a blessing. I’m looking forward to trying to take his head off.”

The Williams brothers will likely guard each other

Since J-Dub has moved to a full-time role in the small forward position, he and Cody will probably guard each other when the Thunder play against the Jazz. It will be an excellent matchup because they have a good dynamic against each other, as they are both lengthy wings with some intangibles as reliable scorers when needed.

Of course, Jalen is the more polished player as he is entering his third NBA season. J-Dub is a likely All-Star this season, as he is projected to elevate his game even more and become a top-tier second option around the league. His scoring and defense have improved during preseason, and he is embracing the role behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

On the other hand, Cody has been working hard in Training Camp for the Jazz. The younger Williams brother played four games in preseason, but the latest one against the San Antonio Spurs was when Cody shone. He scored 17 points on an efficient 6-for-10 shooting from the field.

The Williams brothers will have long careers

Jalen and Cody fit the bill of the modern wing player, as they have the length to be plus defenders in the league with refined offensive games. Of course, Cody has a ways to go in that department, but he has a natural feel for the game that is needed for any young player.

J-Dub is the better player, but a few years from now, the two should have a fun debate. OKC fans would want Jalen to maintain his level of productivity because he is a long-term piece alongside SGA and Chet Holmgren.

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