標籤: Jalens

At this point in the season pregame routine logistics such as shooting groups, meals and training table times are largely set. The NBA trade deadline has passed, rosters are largely set, and young players from lottery-winning teams have found their way to each zone. For example, Cody Williams is starting to establish himself as one of the Utah Jazz’s favorites in 2026. It’s easy to see why Will Hardy is leaning into everything going into year two.

It all starts with the soundtrack. About an hour before tipoff against the Memphis Grizzlies, Williams sat in the visiting locker room with headphones on and props to match the gospel night theme. This felt right for the night. It turns out that part of the ritual is never 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 the designated locker room DJ on Beale Street, Williams isn’t going to be commanding the team’s aux cord. Even joking suggestions are being kept to a minimum until Jackson Jr. returns from knee surgery.

“I don’t have nothing for (Jarren Jackson Jr.) right now,” Williams admitted. “I don’t have the power to play music, so I just sit here and listen to it. In fact, most people have their headphones on before the game.”

What plays through those headphones depends entirely on the moment.

“It depends on the mood,” Williams shrugged. “Before some games, I’ll put on some R&B and calm, some old school Anthony Hamilton, some gospel like Kirk Franklin. It really depends on the mood and what type of day it is. Like, how I’m feeling before that game is what I’ll play. Sometimes I’m putting on Nirvana, Green Day and a bunch of those bands.”

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

“I’ve got good taste in music,” Williams said defensively as a few teammates listened in. “My music is very diverse, shout out to my mom. She listened to a lot of old soul stuff.”

Music truly is a window into the soul; This shows how Williams carries herself. Loose, humble, down to earth, yet confident enough to be curious and make mistakes. It’s also the only way to get better at the game. However, the headphones come in for the shootaround, as Williams wants to absorb everything. It’s more important to be able to interact with coaches and cheer on teammates. Everyone knows Williams is there for them, even if his playlist is everywhere.

Those traits can’t be denied after just a few minutes with the former first-round pick, so a year three jump wouldn’t be surprising to anyone in the front office. Still, in a league known for its rap and hip-hop connections, Williams is also learning some new tunes.

“Lucki is definitely my favorite new artist,” Williams shared. “Whenever I need a new rap, I go into his catalog and listen to it.”

The 21-year-old’s support system extends far beyond her mom’s CD binders. At center stands his brother Jalen, the Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star who recently captured an NBA championship.

“Thank you so much to my brother (Jalen). He’s been my best wingman and biggest inspiration through this whole thing,” Cody said. “I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do a trip like this without him. He’s a good punching bag. I beat him up a lot, but he gives me survival tips.”

Jalen’s rise from unheralded Santa Clara product to lottery pick to champion has provided a blueprint. Now Cody has started to find his feet. 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 getting comfortable at work.

“I think I’m getting a really good idea of ​​how I can impact the team as a whole,” Williams explained. And how can I be effective on the court. It’s just playing to his strengths and weaknesses, especially on the defensive end. Then it’s putting a lot of pressure on the rim offensively. This way I can play in my position and help the team. I feel like I can understand my game more as the season has gone on, which is why I’ve been able to play better.

Despite increasing comfort levels, some things haven’t changed since we dreamed of this moment in childhood.

“I still get butterflies before games,” Williams admitted. “I’m so excited to go out there, to have this opportunity to live a dream. I don’t know if this feeling will ever go away, just because I really love what I do. I don’t even call it a job because it still feels like a dream. I still feel like a little kid every time I jump the ball. Everything about it is so 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 is counting on. If the past several weeks are any indication, Chance, armed with headphones and an extensive playlist, is beginning to figure out how to turn that enthusiasm into production.