Vietnamese American Jaylin Williams is headed to the NBA finals.
Williams is a forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder will face the Indiana Pacers in the finals.
The 22-year-old grew up in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He played college basketball for two years at the University of Arkansas before entering the 2022 NBA draft. He was selected by the Thunder at the 34th pick.
Williams’ mother Linda is Vietnamese. Over the years, Williams has embraced his identity.
“I’ve been getting a lot of support from the Vietnamese community,” Williams told The Oklahoman in a 2023 interview. “When I see people out, they always come up to me. If you see people in my jersey during the game, most of the time it’s Vietnamese people. It’s really awesome.”
Although Williams has not played many minutes for the Thunder during the playoffs, he is still an essential part of the team’s success. This year, he was voted into the top 10 for NBA Teammate of the Year.
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