Cody Williams

Cody Leron Williams is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the NBA. Born November 20, 2004, in San Luis Obispo, California, he was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top prospects in the 2023 high school class. After a single standout season at the University of Colorado, where he earned Pac-12 All-Freshman honors, he was selected 10th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. Williams is known for his defensive versatility, high basketball IQ, and ability to play multiple positions on the wing. As the younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams, he carries a family legacy of basketball excellence while forging his own identity as a promising two-way contributor for a rebuilding Jazz team.[edit]

Williams grew up in Gilbert, Arizona, where he attended Perry High School. He was a consensus five-star recruit and ranked as the No. 13 overall prospect in the 2023 class by ESPN, No. 15 by 247Sports, and No. 17 by Rivals. As a senior, he averaged 18.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game, earning Arizona's Gatorade Player of the Year award. He also played for the AAU club Vegas Elite. Committing to the University of Colorado over offers from Arizona, Arizona State, and USC, he appeared in 24 games as a freshman, averaging 11.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 41.5% from three. A foot injury caused him to miss time early in the season, but he returned to help lead the Buffaloes to an NCAA Tournament appearance, where they reached the second round before falling to Marquette.[edit]

On June 26, 2024, the Utah Jazz selected Williams with the 10th overall pick in the NBA Draft. He signed his rookie contract on July 3, a standard four-year deal worth approximately $20.8 million with the first two seasons fully guaranteed. He made his NBA Summer League debut in July and his regular-season debut on October 23, 2024, against the Memphis Grizzlies. Through early 2025, he is averaging 5.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 21.8 minutes per game across 16 appearances, including four starts. An ankle sprain in November 2024 sidelined him briefly, but he returned to the rotation, showcasing the defensive versatility and playmaking that made him a top-10 pick. The Jazz are developing him as a versatile wing with potential to become a two-way contributor.[edit]

As a rookie, Williams has not yet developed a distinct public persona or fandom culture. Media portrays him as a high-IQ, versatile wing with defensive upside, often described as a glue guy who makes winning plays without needing high usage. He is known for being soft-spoken and humble in interviews, maintaining a relatively low social media profile compared to many rookies. His playing style draws comparisons to modern NBA wings who impact the game on both ends of the floor.[edit]

Cody Williams, the Utah Jazz's versatile rookie wing, has yet to crack iFANN's Global Fame Engine rankings as of August 2026. The engine has evaluated him, but he holds no placement in the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list. The fanbase has no formal name documented.

His fanbase, too, is in its infancy. There's no formal fandom name, no 'Nation' or 'Army', and no documented fan campaigns or rituals. The most vocal fan presence online is a critical Reddit thread on r/UtahJazz, where some label him 'the worst player in the nba.' Such is the life of a lottery pick struggling through his rookie season.

Yet the story is far from over. Williams's reputation as a high-IQ, defensively versatile wing persists, and as he develops, so too might his fame and fandom.[edit]

Williams wears jersey number 3 for the Utah Jazz. He was a multi-sport athlete in high school, also playing football before focusing on basketball. His brother Jalen was drafted 12th overall in 2022, making the Williams brothers the first pair of siblings selected in the lottery in consecutive drafts. Cody turned 19 just before the 2024 draft, making him one of the youngest players in his class. His mother Nicole played college basketball at San Diego, and his father Jalen Sr. played at Portland State, making Cody a second-generation college basketball player.

In his rookie season, Williams showed flashes of his potential, including a 26-point, 6-rebound, 4-assist performance and a game with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists, four steals, and one block. Despite early struggles, his improvement has caught the eye of analysts like Zach Lowe, who noted specific growth in his game. As he continues to develop, fans and pundits alike are watching to see if he can turn potential into consistent production.[edit]

Williams is the younger brother of Jalen Williams, a guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder. His mother, Nicole, played college basketball at the University of San Diego, and his father, Jalen Sr., played at Portland State University. The family has deep basketball roots, and Cody has often cited his brother as a mentor throughout his basketball journey. He grew up in Gilbert, Arizona, with his parents and sibling, maintaining a close-knit family dynamic.[edit]

Cody Williams is the younger brother of Jalen Williams, a guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He plays under head coach Will Hardy for the Utah Jazz, with Danny Ainge serving as CEO. His college teammates at Colorado in the 2023-24 season included KJ Simpson and Tristan da Silva.[edit]

As of early 2026, Cody Williams has no publicly confirmed romantic relationships. He has not been linked to any known partners in credible media outlets and keeps his personal life private. He is currently reported as single with no known dating history or children.[edit]

iFANN's editorial analysis currently estimates Cody Williams's net worth at $4 million. This figure is primarily derived from his rookie contract with the Utah Jazz, signed on July 3, 2024, for $20.8 million over four years. His first-year salary for the 2024-25 season is approximately $4.7 million.

As a rookie, Williams has not yet secured major endorsement deals or business ventures, though his earning potential is expected to grow as his career progresses. His net worth is modest compared to established NBA stars but reflects a solid financial start for a first-round pick.[edit]

Williams has won two awards to date: the Gatorade Arizona Boys Basketball Player of the Year in 2023 and a spot on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team in 2024. Both honors recognize his standout high school and college performances before entering the NBA.[edit]