The Oklahoma City Thunder wrapped up their 2022 NBA Draft class last Thursday with three NBA Lottery picks, and four players total. With the 12th pick in the NBA Draft, the OKC Thunder grabbed Jalen Williams, a perimeter player out of Santa Clara. This was the first of two players with that namesake as Jaylin Williams would eventually be the team’s 34th selection.
Jalen Williams just oozes “cool factor” from his hair to his wardrobe, the million-dollar smile, and his electric personality in each interview so far. He joins a like-minded fun, energic team, and even becomes the latest Tik Tok sensation in Bricktown.
Santa Clara’s Jalen Williams will wear the number 8 for OKC Thunder to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant, becomes the latest Tik Tok star to join OKC.
Josh Giddey is by far the most popular OKC Thunder player on tik tok, but Tre Mann has also tried his hand on the surging social media app. Now, Jalen Williams joins the fun, after releasing comedic and motivational videos on Tik Tok I asked him if there were any plans on collaborating with Josh Giddey on the platform and he told me they have not yet talked about it but let out a laugh with the reminder “I do not dance.” Which, might rule out a crossover with Mann who has made his fair share of Tik Tok dance videos.
Throughout his career, Williams has made it clear Kobe Bryant was a motivation. He wore the number 24 at Santa Clara likely for Bryant. Days before the NBA Draft, Williams posted a tik-tok saying the reason he plays basketball is because of the Hall of Famer.
At the OKC Thunder rookie introductory press conference, I asked Jalen Williams if 8 was for Kobe Bryant and what his earliest memory of the legendary shooting guard was, he said “I picked 8, it was a tribute to Kobe. I grew up watching him, he speaks for himself and the legacy that he has. You hear Mamba Mentality and that is what I carry for myself.”
Williams said he picked 8 because he thought 24 was already taken, it actually is not. However, 24 has never been re-issued by the OKC Thunder as it is retired in Seattle history for Spencer Haywood.