Isaiah Joe Bio
Derrick Isaiah Joe (born July 2, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed “Zai” and sometimes called “Strokin’ Joe,” he plays the shooting guard position and stands 6 ft 4 in tall.
Joe played college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks before being selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the 2020 NBA draft. He later joined the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he developed into a reliable three-point specialist and helped the franchise capture the 2025 NBA championship.
Early Life and Background
Derrick Isaiah Joe was born on July 2, 1999, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and grew up in the same river-town community where he later became a local sports hero. He attended Northside High School in Fort Smith, where he played alongside Jaylin Williams, who would eventually become his Oklahoma City Thunder teammate.
As a junior, Joe averaged 18.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game, leading the Grizzlies to an Arkansas Activities Association 7A state championship and earning first-team All-State recognition. In his senior year, he raised his production to 22.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.9 steals per game and was named the Gatorade Arkansas Boys Basketball Player of the Year and the State Player of the Year by USA Today.
After his senior season, Joe was honored as Mr. Basketball of Arkansas in 2018. He committed to the University of Arkansas over offers from Alabama and Arkansas-Little Rock, choosing to stay close to home for his college career.
Path to Basketball
Joe’s path to professional basketball accelerated quickly at Northside High School, where his shooting touch and scoring instincts drew statewide attention. During his sophomore season, he connected on 41 percent of his three-point attempts, foreshadowing the perimeter identity that would later define his NBA role.
He continued to develop against top Arkansas competition, helping Northside reach the state title game as a senior. His combination of shooting range, court vision, and defensive activity made him one of the most decorated high school players in the state’s recent history.
That reputation followed him to Fayetteville, where he joined a Razorbacks program eager to build around a sharp-shooting freshman. Joe’s recruitment, awards, and on-court results established a clear path to college basketball and, eventually, the NBA.
Isaiah Joe Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
As a freshman at Arkansas in 2018–19, Joe averaged 13.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game across 34 contests. He knocked down 113 three-pointers on 273 attempts, a 41.4 percent clip that broke the school’s single-season record previously held by Scotty Thurman and tied the SEC mark for a freshman. His play earned him a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team and SEC Player of the Week honors after a 34-point outburst against FIU on December 1, 2018.
Entering his sophomore year, Joe was named preseason All-SEC and placed on the Jerry West Award watchlist. He averaged 16.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game before a February 4, 2020 arthroscopic knee procedure cut his season short. He initially declared for the 2020 NBA draft, briefly reversed course to return to Arkansas, and then committed to the professional ranks on August 17, 2020.
Philadelphia 76ers Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Joe was selected with the 49th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and signed his first NBA contract on December 3, 2020. He made his league debut on December 27, 2020, contributing two points, one rebound, one assist, and one steal in seven minutes against the Cleveland Cavaliers. During his rookie year, he appeared in 41 games, including one start, and averaged 3.7 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.5 assists.
In 2021–22, Joe played 55 games with one start for Philadelphia, posting averages of 3.6 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 0.6 assists. He was waived by the 76ers on October 13, 2022, closing a developmental chapter that prepared him for a larger role elsewhere.
Oklahoma City Thunder Era (2022–Present)
On October 16, 2022, Joe signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where his shooting skill fit a young roster building around perimeter scoring. He set a then career high of 28 points on February 24, 2023, in a 124–115 loss to the Phoenix Suns, and then eclipsed that mark on March 29, 2023, with 33 points in a 137–134 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. On November 16 of that season, he went 7-for-7 from beyond the arc for 23 points in a win over the Golden State Warriors.
On July 1, 2024, Joe re-signed with the Thunder on a four-year, $48 million contract, cementing his long-term role with the franchise. On January 10, 2025, he erupted for 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting, draining a career-high eight three-pointers in a 126–101 win over the New York Knicks. On June 22, 2025, he won his first NBA championship as the Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers 103–91 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Driving Style and Strengths
Isaiah Joe’s game is built around perimeter shooting, with smooth mechanics, quick release, and the confidence to fire in transition or half-court sets. He spaces the floor, relocates off screens, and complements his shot-making with active passing and developing defensive footwork. His career three-point accuracy and ability to score in bunches off the bench make him a tactical weapon for the Thunder’s up-tempo system.
Notable Events and Milestones
Joe’s most celebrated milestone came on June 22, 2025, when he helped Oklahoma City capture the NBA championship in a Game 7 victory over the Indiana Pacers. He posted career highs of 33 points and eight made three-pointers during his Thunder tenure, and his July 2024 contract extension reflected his growing importance to the team. Earlier, he set Arkansas’s single-season three-point record and tied the SEC freshman mark during his first college season.
Isaiah Joe Career Wins
Isaiah Joe’s most prominent team victory is the 2025 NBA championship with the Oklahoma City Thunder, earned through a Game 7 win over the Indiana Pacers. While individual regular-season win totals are not fully verifiable from available sources, his role as a key rotation piece during a championship run defines the high point of his professional résumé.
NBA Highlights
Joe’s NBA journey includes 49th-overall selection in the 2020 draft, a Philadelphia 76ers rookie campaign, a brief G League stint with the Delaware Blue Coats in 2021, and a breakout run with the Thunder beginning in 2022. He signed a four-year, $48 million extension in July 2024 and contributed throughout the 2025 playoff push. His first NBA title came in June 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
Before turning professional, Joe led Northside High School to an Arkansas 7A state championship as a junior and was named Mr. Basketball of Arkansas in 2018. At Arkansas, he was an SEC All-Freshman selection and set the program’s single-season three-point record. He also hosted a “Shooters Shoot” youth training camp in Fort Smith in 2024, drawing more than 200 participants.
Isaiah Joe Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Detailed information about Isaiah Joe’s parents and broader family background is not publicly confirmed in available sources. His brother, Jacob Joe, plays college basketball for the Newman Jets, continuing a family connection to the sport.
Personal Life
Isaiah Joe, sometimes called Zai, is a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and remains closely tied to his hometown of Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he hosts community basketball events for young players. Public information about a spouse, children, or marital status is not available.
2025 Season Performance
Isaiah Joe’s 2024–25 campaign with the Oklahoma City Thunder cemented his status as one of the league’s premier reserve shooters. He opened the calendar year with 31 points and eight made three-pointers against the New York Knicks on January 10, signaling his readiness for a deep postseason run.
Throughout the 2025 playoffs, Joe served as a critical bench spacer, helping the Thunder advance through the bracket and into the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. In 21 postseason appearances, he averaged 6.4 points per game while shooting 41.1 percent from three-point range, providing efficient scoring and floor balance.
The season concluded on June 22, 2025, when the Thunder captured a 103–91 Game 7 victory to claim the NBA championship, giving Joe his first title. With a four-year, $48 million contract secured in 2024, his outlook in Oklahoma City points to continued growth as a sharpshooter and rotational anchor for a championship-caliber roster.
