DYNAMIC DUO FROM FORT SMITH. 180 MILES FROM OKLAHOMA CITY IS FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS, HOME OF TWO THUNDER PLAYERS AND TWO HOMEGROWN SUCCESS STORIES. TWO ATHLETES, ISAIAH JOE AND JALEN WILLIAMS. ONE PATH NOT VERY COMMON AND A HOMETOWN’S HEART BEATING FOR BOTH. IT’S REALLY SPECIAL BECAUSE WE GET TO TALK ABOUT ROLE MODELS THAT WE KNOW JALEN WILLIAMS AND ISAIAH JOE TWO OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER PLAYERS WERE BORN AND RAISED IN FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS. IT IS VERY EXCITING TO HAVE TWO OF THEM. THE PLAYERS COME RIGHT OUT OF FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS. THEIR RIVER VALLEY ROOTS AREN’T THE ONLY THING THEY HAVE IN COMMON. THE TWO BOTH PLAYED BALL FOR FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL. THEY LEARNED EARLY ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A TEAM PLAYER. THEY LEARNED EARLY ON HOW TO HONE THEIR PERSONAL SKILLS AND CRAFT. THEY SAY TIMING IS EVERYTHING RIGHT? AND AND I JUST HAPPEN TO BE THE HEAD COACH AT NORTHSIDE FOR FOR JALEN AND ISAIAH TO COME THROUGH. JUST GREAT BEING ABLE TO COACH THOSE TWO GUYS, BARNETT SAYS THE GRIT AND GRIND BETWEEN THE TWO REACHED WELL BEYOND THE COURT. I’M NOT GOING TO GIVE MYSELF ANY CREDIT. I JUST THINK THAT THOSE GUYS HAD THAT IT FACTOR BECAUSE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A LOT OF ATHLETES COME THROUGH HERE AND ALL OF AMERICA. AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM AND OTHER KIDS IS THAT IT FACTOR AND THAT IT FACTOR IS THEY WORK ETHIC. BEING A GOOD PERSON AND JUST BEING HIGH CHARACTER GUYS. AND THAT’S JALEN AND ISAIAH. AND THEN THE TWO WENT ON TO PLAY FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS DIFFERENT YEARS. BUT AGAIN, ON THAT SAME PATH. BOTH GUYS WERE SUPER FUN TO COACH. OBVIOUSLY HAD ISAIAH FOR ONE YEAR. HE WAS AN ELITE SHOOTER. JALEN WAS HE COULD MAKE THREES. OBVIOUSLY JALEN WAS ONE OF THE ELITE CHARGE TAKERS. SO IT WAS NO SURPRISE TO COACH ERIC MUSSELMAN WHEN HE SAW BOTH OF HIS MEN WALK ON WITH THE OKC THUNDER. NO SURPRISE TO SEE THEIR SUCCESS WITH WITH THE THUNDER. WHAT COMES AS A SURPRISE TO MANY IS TO SEE THEM BOTH PLAYING IN THE NBA FINALS TOGETHER, BECAUSE WHAT ARE THE ODDS TO SEE PLAYERS NOT ONLY MAKE IT TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY THE NBA, BUT THEN TO PLAY IN THE GREATEST EVENT THAT A THAT A PRO BASKETBALL PLAYER COULD PLAY IN, IT JUST DOESN’T HAPPEN. WHILE FANS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WILL BE ROOTING FOR THE OKC THUNDER, ARKANSANS WILL HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIAL CONNECTION TO THE TWO HOMETOWN HEROES. IT JUST MEANS A LOT TO THIS, TO THIS COMMUNITY FOR THEM TO DO WHAT THEY’RE DOING BECAUSE IT IS SPECIAL. I MEAN, THERE’S NO OTHER WAY TO PUT IT. IT’S JUST A SPECIAL DEAL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU DON’T GET THIS. YOU JUST DON’T. THEY ARE PROUD TO BE FORT SMITH. AND WE’RE VERY, VERY PROUD TO CALL THEM OUR OWN. RIGHT HERE IN FORT SMITH.
Fort Smith athletes shine in NBA finals with OKC Thunder
Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Joe, both from Fort Smith, Arkansas, are making their mark in the NBA finals as players for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Updated: 6:20 PM CDT Jun 8, 2025
Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Joe, two Oklahoma City Thunder players from Fort Smith, Arkansas, are making waves in the NBA finals, showcasing their shared journey from high school teammates to professional basketball players. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelMayor George McGill of Fort Smith expressed pride in the athletes, saying, “It’s really special because we get to talk about role models that we know. It is very exciting to have two of the Thunder players come right out of Fort Smith, Arkansas.”Eric Burnett, former Fort Smith Northside basketball coach, reflected on their high school days, noting, “They learned early on about what it means to be a team player. They learned early on how to hone their personal skills and craft.” “We woulda won three state championships in a row, if Jaylin don’t get sick. He got sick at a state championship game, and he didn’t play, so we ended up getting beat by North Little Rock, uh about maybe ten points. But we was ahead until Jaylin got sick. But just great getting to coach those two guys,” Burnett said.Burnett emphasized the unique qualities of Williams and Joe, stating, “I’m not gonna give myself any credit, I just think those guys had that it factor, cause we have a lot of athletes come through here, all over America. And the difference between them and other kids, is that it factor. That it factor is their work ethic, being a good person, and just being high character guys, and that’s Jaylin and Isaiah.”Eric Musselman, former University of Arkansas head basketball coach, praised both players, saying, “Both guys were super fun to coach. Obviously, I had Isaiah for one year, he was an elite shooter. Jaylin was, uh, he could make 3’s, he was one of the elite charge takers, defensively, of any player in the last 10 years of college basketball.”Musselman expressed no surprise at their success with the Thunder, stating, “No surprise to see their success with the Thunder.” He remarked on the rarity of their achievement, saying, “It just doesn’t happen.”“Never have we had two guys playing on the same team vying for a major championship in big-time sports.” Musselman added, “To see players not only make it to the highest level, which is the NBA, but then to play in the greatest event that a pro basketball player could play in,” McGill said.As fans worldwide cheer for the OKC Thunder, the community of Fort Smith holds a special connection to these hometown heroes. “It just means a lot to this, to this uh community for them to do what they doing. Because it is special. There’s no other way to put it. It’s just a special deal because you don’t get this. You just don’t,” Burnett said.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.”They are proud to be Fort Smithians. Proud to call Fort Smith home, and we’re very proud to call them our very own in Fort Smith,” McGill said.More Thunder HeadlinesNBA Finals Guide: Tickets, schedule and everything you need to know as the Thunder play for a titleTracking Thunder ticket prices for first two games of NBA FinalsSee when you can watch the Thunder play in the NBA FinalsOklahoma City Thunder return to NBA Finals after 13 yearsThe Thunder have won the Western Conference title. Here’s where you can get NBA Finals gearSGA wins Western Conference Finals MVP
OKLAHOMA CITY —
Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Joe, two Oklahoma City Thunder players from Fort Smith, Arkansas, are making waves in the NBA finals, showcasing their shared journey from high school teammates to professional basketball players.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
Mayor George McGill of Fort Smith expressed pride in the athletes, saying, “It’s really special because we get to talk about role models that we know. It is very exciting to have two of the Thunder players come right out of Fort Smith, Arkansas.”
Eric Burnett, former Fort Smith Northside basketball coach, reflected on their high school days, noting, “They learned early on about what it means to be a team player. They learned early on how to hone their personal skills and craft.”
“We woulda won three state championships in a row, if Jaylin don’t get sick. He got sick at a state championship game, and he didn’t play, so we ended up getting beat by North Little Rock, uh about maybe ten points. But we was ahead until Jaylin got sick. But just great getting to coach those two guys,” Burnett said.
Burnett emphasized the unique qualities of Williams and Joe, stating, “I’m not gonna give myself any credit, I just think those guys had that it factor, cause we have a lot of athletes come through here, all over America. And the difference between them and other kids, is that it factor. That it factor is their work ethic, being a good person, and just being high character guys, and that’s Jaylin and Isaiah.”
Eric Musselman, former University of Arkansas head basketball coach, praised both players, saying, “Both guys were super fun to coach. Obviously, I had Isaiah for one year, he was an elite shooter. Jaylin was, uh, he could make 3’s, he was one of the elite charge takers, defensively, of any player in the last 10 years of college basketball.”
Musselman expressed no surprise at their success with the Thunder, stating, “No surprise to see their success with the Thunder.”
He remarked on the rarity of their achievement, saying, “It just doesn’t happen.”
“Never have we had two guys playing on the same team vying for a major championship in big-time sports.” Musselman added, “To see players not only make it to the highest level, which is the NBA, but then to play in the greatest event that a pro basketball player could play in,” McGill said.
As fans worldwide cheer for the OKC Thunder, the community of Fort Smith holds a special connection to these hometown heroes.
“It just means a lot to this, to this uh community for them to do what they doing. Because it is special. There’s no other way to put it. It’s just a special deal because you don’t get this. You just don’t,” Burnett said.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
“They are proud to be Fort Smithians. Proud to call Fort Smith home, and we’re very proud to call them our very own in Fort Smith,” McGill said.
More Thunder Headlines