Under the contract’s extension option, Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) had the opportunity to keep Williams for another year at $2.1 million. However, they opted not to let the 23-year-old player become a free agent and negotiated a new three-year deal instead.
While other specific terms have not been disclosed, ESPN reports that the new contract is worth $24 million. This is the largest contract ever signed by a player of Vietnamese descent in the NBA. Previously, Johnny Juzang, who has a Vietnamese mother, received a $12 million contract from the Utah Jazz for four years, valid until the 2027-2028 season.
Williams played a key role in OKC’s 2024-2025 NBA Championship, the team’s first title since 1979 when they were still known as the Seattle SuperSonics. The 23-year-old power forward averaged 5.9 points with a career-high 43.9% shooting percentage, along with 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists. After three seasons, his career averages stand at 5.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 165 games.
Born and raised in Arkansas, Williams played for his hometown university before gaining attention during his standout 2021-2022 season. He was selected by OKC in the 34th pick of the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft, making him the first American player of Vietnamese descent to play in the NBA, reach the NBA Finals and win a championship.
According to JoysauceWilliams’ grandmother, Nga, moved from Ho Chi Minh City to the U.S. in 1975, when Jaylin’s mother, Linda, was only 4 years old. Linda expressed pride in her son’s historic achievement as he entered the NBA.
In an interview with Theukhohou ask.fm/ in 2023, Williams revealed that he has received great support from the Vietnamese community in the U.S., with many attending his games.
Williams has expressed a desire to visit Vietnam to connect with his fans and learn more about his heritage. He also hopes to improve his Vietnamese skills. His favorite dish is pho, and he enjoys hearing stories about Vietnam from his mother. While he has left open the possibility of playing for the Vietnam national basketball team, he stated that he would need more time to focus on his NBA career before making any decisions.
Since the establishment of the Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA) in 2016, many overseas Vietnamese players have returned to play and start their careers here. Notable players include Viet Arnold, Dinh Thanh Tam, Justin Young, Tran Dang Khoa, Chris Dierker, Richard Nguyen and Johnny Juzang’s brother, Christian Juzang. Women’s basketball has also seen talented overseas players like twin sisters Truong Thao Vy and Truong Thao My.
