Jazz Mailbag: Does Cody Williams Recent Improvement Matter?
Jan 13, 2026, 2:56 PM | Updated: Jan 14, 2026, 12:25 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – Welcome to the Utah Jazz Mailbag! This week, we explore what fans should make of Cody Williams’ recent improvements.
Each week, we will send out a prompt on X and BlueSky asking for the questions you have about the Jazz.
Then, we’ll respond to as many as we can in that week’s Jazz mailbag in the Jazz Notes podcast.
Jazz Mailbag: Is Cody Williams Making Meaningful Growth?
Thoughts on Cody Williams improvements and Walter
— BIG “AIR” BAILEY 🤾🏽♂️ (@jazzbeargryllz) January 12, 2026
Question: Thoughts on Cody Williams’ improvements and Walter Clayton Jr.?
Answer: Quickly on Walt Clayton Jr., since you asked.
I was a big fan of the guard coming out of Florida, and he’s largely lived up to expectations.
As a four-year college player, Clayton Jr. entered the NBA with advanced game knowledge and proven toughness on both ends of the floor. That has been evident whenever he’s gotten bigger opportunities.
🐊 top of the key, three 🐊#TakeNote | @w1clayton pic.twitter.com/BztNPRHIsF
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 8, 2026
Clayton Jr. projects as an elite NBA shooter, and he’s starting to show it—hitting 38% of his threes since December 1 and an incredible 95% of his free throws this season.
If Keyonte George hadn’t had the All-Star caliber breakout we’ve seen, Clayton Jr. would already look like a key rotation piece for the Jazz moving forward.
Cody Williams Is Getting Better
Speaking of rotation pieces, Cody Williams has begun to find himself over his last 10 appearances, playing the best basketball of his young career.
During that stretch, Williams is averaging 8.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.8 assists, shooting 51 percent from the field and 26 percent from three-point range in 19 minutes per game.
Jazz Mailbag: How Can The 2025-26 Season End Successfully?
Recently, Williams entered the Jazz’s starting lineup. Over three games, he’s averaged 10.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, shooting 57 percent from the floor and 33 percent from three.
The sample size is small, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Defensive Growth and Physical Development
While the raw numbers don’t show it, Williams has a strong grasp of Will Hardy’s defensive scheme. He’s almost always in the right spot and rarely gets lost on switches or ball screens.
Physically, the 21-year-old still needs to improve his strength, but he has a clear path to becoming a meaningful perimeter defender.
Offensive Strides and Confidence Boosters
On offense, Williams is making real strides. At his best, he attacks closeouts and finishes at the rim, recording 11 dunks in his last 10 games—compared to just five all last season.
That tells me he’s trusting his improved physique and has the natural tools to compete at this level.
CODY WILLIAMS WITH THE POSTER ON QUINTEN POST 😱😱 pic.twitter.com/ePWDxZ7EPc
— Jazz Lead (@JazzLead) January 4, 2026
Highlight dunks aren’t everything, but they build confidence. Recent finishes seem to have helped Williams gain momentum.
Driving success has also freed him mentally, i.e., he’s thinking less and playing more. He knows he can make a positive play by attacking the rim, which wasn’t the case earlier this season.
Three-Point Shooting: Signs of Life
Since finding success at the hoop, his three-point percentage has climbed, but there’s still room to grow.
six Jazzmen with threes already, including this from Cody 🎯#TakeNote presented by @Pura pic.twitter.com/f23DI8L32d
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 13, 2026
The Arizona native shot a disastrous 3-for-22 (12 percent) from deep in his first 16 games. Over his last 10, he’s up to 26 percent, and since January 1, he’s hit 6-of-18 (33 percent).
Rebounding and Passing Progress
Williams has also improved as a rebounder and passer. Earlier this season, he failed to record either a rebound or an assist in seven of his first 26 games—a sign that scoring struggles were affecting other areas.
Over his last 10 games, he’s had two such games, but he’s grabbed multiple rebounds in six straight and dished seven assists in that span.
Baby steps, but progress nonetheless.
The Big Picture
Williams still has significant room to grow if he wants to become a bona fide NBA rotation player. But over the last three weeks, he’s playing the best basketball of his career and showing real signs of life.
After a rough rookie season and a difficult start to year two, these positive developments are a welcome sign for the former lottery pick.
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Ben Anderson is the author of the Jazz Mailbag, a Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports, the author of the Jazz Mailbag, and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
