Oklahoma City mayor David Holt added another significant accolade to Jalen Williams’ banner year on Tuesday, July 29.
Holt and the city honored the superstar member of the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder by declaring the date “Jalen ‘JDub’ Williams Day” in the city.
Williams, a 2019 graduate of Perry High School in Gilbert, helped lead the Thunder to its first NBA title this year, with a decisive Game 7 finals victory over the Indiana Pacers on June 22.
Williams scored 20 points in the win and averaged 23.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game during the finals. He scored a playoff career-high 40 in the Thunder’s Game 5 win that put them ahead 3-2 in the championship series.
“JALEN ‘JDUB’ WILLIAMS is one of 18 Thunder players who collectively won for OKC our first NBA Championship,” Holt posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday. “All 18 will live forever in our history & in our hearts. In recognition of this historic accomplishment, I hereby proclaim that today is JALEN “JDUB” WILLIAMS DAY in OKC!”
JALEN “JDUB” WILLIAMS is one of 18 Thunder players who collectively won for OKC our first NBA Championship. All 18 will live forever in our history & in our hearts. In recognition of this historic accomplishment, I hereby proclaim that today is JALEN “JDUB” WILLIAMS DAY in OKC! pic.twitter.com/28oSNTGf0s
— Mayor David Holt (@davidfholt) July 29, 2025
Williams exuberantly posted to Thunder fans on X with three laughing emojis, “THROW SUM ON THE GRILL FOR ME!!!!”
Williams’ origins, including his alma mater Perry, were listed atop the holiday’s proclamation sheet. He was the Perry Pumas’ top player in 2019.
On June 5, the four-time Open Division boys basketball state champion Perry also showed their gratitude to Williams for bolstering his former team’s national recognition by renaming the street leading to the school “Jalen WiIliams Way” during the finals. The school played a pre-recorded video message from Williams thanking the school for the honor.
The street was previously named “Brock Purdy Way” in 2013 after another top Perry sports alumnus and now San Francisco 49ers quarterback, prior to the 49ers taking on the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Williams declared for the 2022 NBA Draft as a junior out of Santa Clara. The Thunder selected him at No. 12 overall, their second pick in that year’s draft after No. 2 Chet Holmgren. Those two players alongside the league’s MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander formed the team’s top trio that led the Thunder to become the league’s youngest team (average age 25.56 years) to win the title since the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers.
In Williams’ third season, he earned his first All-Star selection, All-NBA Third Team and All-NBA Defensive Second Team honors.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Oklahoma City mayor declares holiday for Jalen Williams of Thunder