The Utah Jazz’s first draft pick Wednesday evening was a bit of a shock to both player and organization.
Colorado forward Cody Williams was selected with the 10th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. But most draft prognosticators believed he’d be selected before the draft rolled around to Danny Ainge and the Jazz’s front office.
And Williams didn’t see his new home coming either — but for a different reason.
“I kind of told my agent to keep it a secret from me,” Williams said. “I just wanted to be surprised.”
Surprised as he might be, Williams said he was “more than happy to be a part of the Utah Jazz.” He called it a dream come true, and said he enjoyed visiting Salt Lake City and the Jazz’s practice facility, the Zions Bank Basketball Center during the pre-draft process.
(Julia Nikhinson | AP) Cody Williams, right, greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected by the Utah Jazz as the 10th pick during the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in New York.
“Salt Lake’s really nice, easy to get around,” he said. “The practice facility is top-notch.”
Williams is the reward for the Jazz after a difficult season in which they went 31-51 during the regular season, falling short of the Play-In tournament by 15 wins. The brother of Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams, the 19-year-old scored 11.9 points, dished 1.9 assists, and collected 3.0 rebounds per game for the Buffaloes in his freshman year.
Considered the fifth best player in the 2023 high school class, Williams was one of the most significant recruiting wins in Colorado history a year ago. As a freshman, though, Williams was the Buffaloes’ third-leading scorer, usually playing a smaller role next to Tristan da Silva and KJ Simpson. Da Silva was drafted No. 18 to the Orlando Magic.
Williams is taller, but skinnier than his brother — who was Oklahoma City’s second-best player last year as they topped the Western Conference. Cody Williams will need to get significantly stronger to defend and compete on the boards at the NBA level. He knows that, highlighting his strength and conditioning work as his top priority as he enters the pros.
“They showed me what I need to work on as far as my body goes,” Williams said. “And then you have to get into shape getting ready to play 82 games per season, especially playing half of them at altitude.”
(Julia Nikhinson | AP) Cody Williams walks the red carpet before the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in New York.
Williams projects to be the kind of switchable forward who keeps the offensive end going as well. That type of player has proven to be one of the most valuable in the NBA playoffs. He can drive and makes good decisions in the half court, and showed promise defensively as a freshman — though didn’t put up the blocks and steals numbers other top defensive prospects did.
“Being able to come in and guard 1, 2, and 3, I feel like I can help this team out a lot,” Williams said, when asked how he can contribute to the Jazz right away. “And then spacing the floor with my shooting and being able to make plays not only for myself, but for other people.”
So how will he compare to his star brother?
“Yeah, I strive to be better than him,” he said. “I’m going to make sure I’m matched up on him when we’re playing them. Make sure to tell [Jazz coach Will Hardy], put me on him. That’s the game plan.”
