Oklahoma City Thunder big man Jaylin Williams had a game to remember Friday against the Utah Jazz.
With the Thunder having already secured the best record in the NBA, the team was able to rest its starters versus the Jazz at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Williams made his eighth start of the season against a Jazz lineup featuring mostly rookies and sophomores.
Williams, a “grizzled veteran” with three years of NBA experience, truly looked a cut above his competitors. The Arkansas alum did his best Nikola Jokic impression, tallying 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists on 5/7 shooting from the floor.
But unlike Jokic, Williams also flashed his athleticism with a highlight dunk late in the third quarter. Williams slipped between two defenders to get an open look in the paint. Instead of hoisting up a hook shot or floater, the crafty center went full Tracy McGrady mode. He tossed the ball off the glass and caught his own lob for a powerful two-handed dunk.
Jaylin Williams off the glass to himself 😱 pic.twitter.com/OjWxxN9QFc
— NBA (@NBA) April 12, 2025
Here’s an even better angle of the play.
Enjoy the view 🎥@OGandE Power Play of the Game https://t.co/ZWHAe2PXXR pic.twitter.com/kLaqIU36dp
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) April 12, 2025
Williams did not hesitate for a second to attempt the unorthodox alley-oop, which shows his unique ability to process the game from the center position.
J-Will has recorded a triple-double in each of his last three starts. He has more triple-doubles in that span alone than superstars like Allen Iverson, Kawhi Leonard, Shaq, and even Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have in their entire careers.
Despite the Thunder sitting several key players, Williams and the rest of the team’s bench mob still picked up a 145-111 victory over the tanking Jazz.
