Cody Williams goes into depth about his brother Jalen’s influence, growing up with jazz

Routine pre-game logistics like shooting groups, meals and practice table time are pretty much ingrained at this point in the season. The NBA trade deadline has passed, rosters are pretty much set, and young players on lottery-bound teams have found their way into every arena. Cody Williams is starting to settle down as one of Utah Jazz Boys 2026for example. It’s easy to see why Will Hardy is banking on whatever the second-year forward has to offer down the stretch.

It all starts with the soundtrack. About an hour before tip-off against the Memphis Grizzlies, Williams sat in the visiting locker room, headphones on, intending things to fit the Gospel Night theme. That’s what felt right for the night. That part of the ritual, it turns out, is never exactly the same twice.

“I can’t do the same thing before every game,” Williams told ClutchPoints. “I have to change it.”

However, unlike his new teammate Jaren Jackson Jr.who once served as a DJ in the Beale Street locker room, Williams will not commandeer the team’s AUX cable. Even the joking suggestions are kept to a minimum until Jackson Jr. returns from knee surgery.

“I don’t have anything on (Jaren Jackson Jr.) right now,” Williams admitted. “I don’t have the power to play music, so I just sit here and listen to it. I usually have headphones on before the game, really.”

What’s playing through those headphones depends entirely on the moment.

“It depends on the mood,” shrugged Williams. “Before certain games, I’ll throw in some R&B and chill, some old school Anthony Hamilton, some gospel like Kirk Franklin. It really depends on the mood and what the day is like. Like, whatever I feel like before that game, I’ll play that. Sometimes I’ll throw in Nirvana, Green Day and a bunch of those bands.”

An eclectic mix that defies categorization dates back to his earliest exposure to music.

“I have good taste in music,” Williams said defensively as several teammates eavesdropped. “My music is very diverse, shout out to my mom. She listened to a lot of that old soul stuff.”

Music is truly a window to the soul; shows how Williams behaves. Loose, humble, down to earth, but confident enough to be curious and make mistakes. It’s also the only way to get better at the game. The headphones come off for the shoot, though, because Williams wants to soak it all in. It’s more important to be able to talk to coaches and announce teammates. Everyone knows Williams is there for them, even if his playlist is all over the place.

Those traits are undeniable after just a few minutes with the former first-round pick, so a third-year jump wouldn’t surprise anyone in the front office. Still, in a league best known for its ties to rap and hip-hop, Williams is also learning a few new tunes.

“LUCKY is my new artist for sure,” Williams said. “I go into his catalog, I listen to it when I need some new rap.”

The 21-year-old’s support system extends far beyond his mother’s CDs. In the center stands his brother Jalen, Oklahoma City Thunder An All-Star who just won an NBA championship.

“Big shout out to my brother (Jalen). He’s been my best player and biggest inspiration through this whole thing,” Cody noted. “I definitely wouldn’t have gone on a trip like this without him. He’s a good punching bag. I beat him a lot, but he gives me defensive tips.”

Jalen’s rise from unheralded Santa Clara product to lottery pick to champion provided the blueprint. Now Cody is starting to find his footing. Since dropping 18 points on New Year’s Day, Williams has averaged 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.7 steals/blocks while shooting 52.5% from the field.

This recent increase in production is just part of relaxing at work.

“I think I’m getting a really good idea of ​​how I impact the team overall,” Williams explained, “and how I can be effective on the court. It’s just playing to my strengths and weaknesses, especially on the defensive end. Then it’s a lot of pressure on the rim offensively. So I can play in my niche and understand why my game is capable of playing more. playing better.”

Despite his increasing level of comfort, some things hadn’t changed since his childhood when he dreamed of this moment.

“I still get butterflies before a game,” Williams admitted. “I’m excited to be out there, to have this opportunity to live the dream. I don’t know if that feeling will ever go away, just because I honestly love what I do. I don’t even call it work because it still feels like a dream. I still feel like a little kid every time I hit that jump ball. Everything about it is just exciting.”

For a Jazz franchise in the midst of a deliberate rebuild, that kind of enthusiasm from a young cornerstone is exactly what the organization relies on. If the past few weeks are any indication, potential clients with headphones and an extensive playlist are starting to figure out how to turn that excitement into production.