Latest news with #JaylinWilliams
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thunder's Jaylin Williams reacts to $24 million contract with GIF of himself
The post Thunder's Jaylin Williams reacts to $24 million contract with GIF of himself appeared first on ClutchPoints. Center Jaylin Williams and the Oklahoma City Thunder reportedly agreed to a $24 million contract extension. In his third season, Williams recorded three triple-doubles for the Thunder. He's also carved out a unique role as a two-way third-string center with a strong voice and leadership presence in the locker room. Filling in for injured starting forward Chet Holmgren, who missed 50 regular-season games, or Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin made his presence felt. After becoming an NBA champion, Williams secured a three-year deal to remain with the Thunder, per ESPN's Shams Charania. 'Thunder C/F Jaylin Williams is signing a new three-year, $24 million contract extension with the franchise,' Charania reported. 'Thunder declined Williams' $2.1M team option and negotiated the new raise with his agents Marcus Monk and Sean Kennedy of Excel Sports.' Then, Williams reacted to the news about himself with a GIF of himself on his X, formerly Twitter. The GIF is from one of the Thunder's many group walk-off interviews, which is a reaction to something Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. It's one many fans are familiar with as Oklahoma City welcomes Jaylin back for the foreseeable future. Williams averaged 5.9 points on career-best 43.9% shooting, including 39.9% from deep, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in 2024-25. He also started nine regular-season games, including in a 145-111 win against the Utah Jazz, where Williams recorded his third triple-double (15 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists). This happened 12 days after Jaylin finished with 19 points, 17 rebounds, 11 assists, and two steals in a 133-100 win against the Philadelphia 76ers. After the win, Williams discussed the significance of reaching such an impressive career milestone. 'It's always an honor when you're put into a group with a bunch of amazing players,' Williams said. 'I'm super thankful that God gives me the opportunity to play basketball every day and puts me in a position to be able to showcase my skills. 'Regardless of what the opportunity is, I'm just going to go out there and play my game, bring energy to the team, and do whatever the team needs.' Williams recorded his first triple-double (10 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists) in a 107-89 win against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 7. Jaylin Williams' NSFW parade message for Thunder fans Veteran Jaylin Williams' speech had Thunder fans screaming after their championship parade in downtown Oklahoma City. Williams knew just how to evoke the passion fans felt throughout the 2024-25 campaign. 'They said we were too young! They said Oklahoma shouldn't have a team!' Williams said. 'But guess what? We're the f****** champs!' Williams brings plenty of value on a three-year, $24 million deal for the Thunder. Related: Thunder trade proposal for LeBron James adds four-time champion to Finals winners Related: Sam Presti reveals Thunder's offseason plan after 2025 NBA Finals victory
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thunder players show off Larry O'Brien trophy in convertibles
The post Thunder players show off Larry O'Brien trophy in convertibles appeared first on ClutchPoints. After Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams clapped back at the championship parade claims of being a bust, the Thunder's Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Joe had their own parade in their droptop convertibles. From Fort Smith, Arkansas to NBA champions, the two childhood friends returned to their hometown to show off the Larry O'Brien trophy. It was a special moment for Williams and Joe. The two high school teammates at Northside High School in Fort Smith teamed up when Williams was selected 34th overall by the Thunder in 2022. After Isaiah Joe was selected 49th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2020, the Thunder signed him as a free agent weeks after selecting Jaylin in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft. The two childhood friends celebrated in their hometown, bringing the Larry O'Brien trophy with them, per Suave Report's Addam Francisco. Fittingly, the parade occurred over a week after Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt declared July 16 as Jaylin Williams Day and on the day of, July 24, Holt declared it to be Isaiah Joe Day in Oklahoma City. Now, July 24 is also celebrated as Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Joe Day in Fort Smith, which was made official during Thursday's 'Thunder in the Fort' parade. Jalen Williams claps back at false claims over Thunder parade Before signing their core three players to max deals, the Thunder inked Jaylin Williams to a three-year extension after celebrating with Oklahoma City amid a championship parade. Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams set the record straight. After claims that the parade was a bust, Williams said that couldn't have been further from the truth, he said, during a recent appearance on The Young Man & The Three podcast. 'The parade, I don't know why everybody was doing the thing where I don't know why it was a trend to like say that there wasn't a ton of people out there, but it was actually overwhelming how many people were there,' Williams said. 'But I mean, I enjoyed it, Oklahoma enjoyed it.' While there were some gaps in the crowd throughout the parade route, most of the excited Thunder fans waited toward the end of the route to greet the team. Then, most gathered by the thousands for a celebration rally at Scissortail Park. 'So it was rushed in a way, and we still have 700,000 people over there,' Williams added. 'The grass that we're on, you can't even see the grass. We didn't even stay on the float; we ran the whole parade.' Williams hopes the Thunder will get a chance for a do-over in 2026. Related: Thunder star Jalen Williams roasted by fans for recreating Kobe Bryant injury photo Related: Thunder's Isaiah Hartenstein sounds off on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 'ego'
CTV News
20-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Edmonton Elks sign 3 defensive backs, former NFL players among the recruits
The Edmonton Elks announced they have recruited a trio of defensive backs on Sunday. The new additions include Jerrell Cummings, Jaylin Williams and Bryce Cosby. Among them, the latter two come to Edmonton with NFL experience under their belts. • Download our app to get Edmonton alerts on your device Cummings will make his return to the city after getting the axe during the 2025 Elks training camp. The UBC Thunderbird alumnus was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in 2024 as a fifth round, 39th overall pick. Williams made 152 tackles, two sacks, 24 pass deflections, and six interceptions during his five season stint playing for the University of Indiana. He later signed with the Minnesota Vikings following the 2023 NFL draft and played there for two seasons. Williams was also part of the BC Lions practice roster in 2025. Cosby joins the Edmonton club after spending the 2024 season on the Montreal Alouettes. During his time there, he tallied 67 tackles, two interceptions and one sack. Before joining the CFL, Cosby spent two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders and was named first-time All-MAC in 2020 with Ball State. The Elks will take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders on their home turf Friday at 8 p.m.
CTV News
20-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Edmonton Elks sign 3 defensive backs, former NFL players among the recruits
The Edmonton Elks announced they have recruited a trio of defensive backs on Sunday. The new additions include Jerrell Cummings, Jaylin Williams and Bryce Cosby. Among them, the latter two come to Edmonton with NFL experience under their belts. • Download our app to get Edmonton alerts on your device Cummings will make his return to the city after getting the axe during the 2025 Elks training camp. The UBC Thunderbird alumnus was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in 2024 as a fifth round, 39th overall pick. Williams made 152 tackles, two sacks, 24 pass deflections, and six interceptions during his five season stint playing for the University of Indiana. He later signed with the Minnesota Vikings following the 2023 NFL draft and played there for two seasons. Williams was also part of the BC Lions practice roster in 2025. Cosby joins the Edmonton club after spending the 2024 season on the Montreal Alouettes. During his time there, he tallied 67 tackles, two interceptions and one sack. Before joining the CFL, Cosby spent two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders and was named first-time All-MAC in 2020 with Ball State. The Elks will take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders on their home turf Friday at 8 p.m.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jalen Williams Says He Tried Alcohol For The First Time After OKC Thunder Won 2025 Title
Jalen Williams Says He Tried Alcohol For The First Time After OKC Thunder Won 2025 Title originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Oklahoma City Thunder's 2025 NBA Championship celebration came with an unexpected twist: Jalen Williams, one of the team's breakout stars, revealed he had his first alcoholic drink moments after the Game 7 victory. And according to Williams, the entire moment was 'a blur.' 'Actually just had my first drink, so I'm like working on that,' Williams admitted in a postgame interview, visibly amused but still clearly processing the magnitude of the night. The Thunder had just secured a historic 103–91 win over the Indiana Pacers to capture the franchise's first NBA title since relocating to Oklahoma City. But if you were expecting wild champagne showers and popping bottles in the locker room like a typical NBA champion, think again. 'That was the most tempered locker room I've seen after any championship,' wrote Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. There wasn't the over-the-top chaos you might associate with a team full of veterans. Instead, there was laughter, awkward beer sipping, and a team of twenty-somethings trying to figure out how to act like champions while still being barely old enough to rent a car. Williams' teammate Jaylin Williams, no relation, also sampled beer for the first time—and immediately made a face that went viral online. 'Where's the tequila?' he asked moments later, realizing beer might not be his beverage of choice. What makes this story even funnier is how young the Thunder truly are. With an average age of 25.6, they're the second-youngest team in NBA history to win a title—only the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers were younger. The core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Cason Wallace has proven they're not just rising stars, they're champions. Jalen Williams, in particular, had a standout postseason. He played 22 games in the Thunder's run to the title, averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 45.5% from the field. During the regular season, he averaged nearly identical numbers and was selected to his first NBA All-Star team. At just 23 years old, Williams became the fifth player in NBA Finals history to post 25+ points in three straight Finals games before turning 25. He wasn't just along for the ride; he was one of the engines. In Game 7, he combined with Holmgren for 38 crucial points, while Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 29 points and 12 assists. Their dominance, especially in the second half, helped OKC pull away as Indiana faltered, especially with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined. But despite the dominance, what fans will remember just as much as the box score is the Thunder's joy and honesty. A first championship celebration that didn't look like a Hollywood script, but more like a college graduation party. Some first drinks, bad beer faces, and laughter with lifelong teammates. The Thunder are champions. The kids are alright. And Jaylin Williams finally knows what a cold beer tastes story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
