Jalen Williams Honored with Jersey Retirement at Perry High School, Thunder Show Out in Full Support
GILBERT, Ariz. - Tuesday night was a full-circle moment for Jalen Williams, and the Oklahoma City Thunder made sure it felt like home.
The Thunder forward and rising NBA star had his high school jersey retired at Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona - the same gym where he first started turning heads as a lanky, skilled scorer wearing #11. That number now hangs in the rafters, the first ever to be retired by the school.
Williams played at Perry from 2016 to 2019, and while his game has evolved dramatically since those days, the roots of his success were planted right there in that gym. From high school standout to Santa Clara star to NBA All-Star - the journey has been anything but ordinary, and Tuesday night was a celebration of just how far he’s come.
The Thunder weren’t just watching from afar - they showed up in numbers. Over 60 players, coaches, and staff made the trip to support Williams, according to reports.
That’s not just a gesture. That’s a statement about who Jalen Williams is to this organization.
In photos shared by the team, several Thunder players - including Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, Isaiah Joe, and Cason Wallace - were seen in the stands wearing custom shirts of Jalen in his Perry “Pumas” uniform. It was more than just a jersey retirement; it was a reunion, a moment of pride, and a reminder of how tightly knit this Thunder squad has become.
The team’s social media post captured the emotion of the night: “Back where it all began,” they wrote, noting that Williams was surrounded by family, friends, and teammates. That support system has been a constant in his rise, and it was on full display in Gilbert.
And this isn’t the first time Williams has received this kind of recognition. Just two months ago, Santa Clara retired his college jersey, placing him alongside school legends like Steve Nash and Kurt Rambis. That’s rare company, and it speaks volumes about the impact he’s had at every stop along the way.
For Perry High School, Jalen Williams is now immortalized - not just as the first to have his jersey retired, but as a symbol of what’s possible. And for the Thunder, it was another reminder that they’ve got something special in “Dub.”