The 23-year-old athlete, currently in the final year of his contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) earning $2.1 million this season, has finalized a three-year extension.

Specific terms of the agreement remain undisclosed. However, ESPN reports the deal is worth $24 million. This marks the largest contract ever signed by a Vietnamese-American player in the NBA. Previously, Johnny Juzang, born in 2001 and also of Vietnamese descent, signed a four-year, $12 million contract with the Utah Jazz, extending through the 2027-2028 season.

Jaylin celebrates after scoring during the Oklahoma City Thunder's 113-104 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of the 2024-2025 NBA Western Conference Semifinals at Ball Arena, 10/5/2025. _Photo: AP_

Williams contributed significantly to OKC's 2024-2025 NBA championship victory, their first since 1979 when the team was known as the Seattle SuperSonics. The forward, born in 2002, averaged a career-best 5.9 points with a 43.9% field goal percentage, along with 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Over three seasons, his career averages stand at 5.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 165 games.

ClutchPoints described Williams as having "a unique role within the OKC team." The article highlighted him as "a reserve forward who excels on both defense and offense, with a strong presence in the locker room."

Born and raised in Arkansas, Williams played for the University of Arkansas before entering the NBA. Following a breakout 2021-2022 season, he caught the attention of NBA scouts and was selected by OKC in the second round, 34th overall, of the 2022 NBA Draft. He became the first player of Vietnamese heritage to play in the NBA, reach the NBA Finals, and win a championship.

Jaylin Williams celebrates with the 2024-2025 NBA championship trophy at a victory parade in Oklahoma City on 24/6/2025. _Photo: Imagn Images_

According to Joysauce, Williams's grandmother, Nga, emigrated from Ho Chi Minh City to the United States in 1975. At the time, his mother, Linda, was 4 years old. Linda expressed pride in her son's heritage as he entered the NBA.

"We never imagined Jaylin would have a career like this," Linda told The Oklahoman in 2023. "Becoming the first Vietnamese-American player in the NBA is special for our family and for Jaylin."

In the same article, Williams acknowledged the support he's received from the Vietnamese community in the US. "If you see fans wearing my jersey at a game, most of them are Vietnamese. It's amazing," he said.

The 23-year-old has expressed his desire to visit Vietnam to meet fans, experience the culture, and learn more Vietnamese. He enjoys pho and has heard stories about Vietnam from his mother. While he has not ruled out the possibility of playing for the Vietnamese national basketball team, he remains focused on his NBA career.

The US is considered the birthplace and powerhouse of basketball. Since the establishment of the Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA) in 2016, a growing number of Vietnamese-Americans have returned to Vietnam to play professionally. Notable players include Viet Arnold, Dinh Thanh Tam, Justin Young, Tran Dang Khoa, Chris Dierker, Richard Nguyen, and Johnny Juzang's brother, Christian Juzang. The women's league features twin sisters Truong Thao Vy and Truong Thao My.

Hieu Luong