Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by Orlando Bloom
Ziaire Williams comes from a disciplined and supportive family that played a major role in his journey from Lancaster, California, to Stanford and the NBA. Born Ziaire Williams Jr. on September 12, 2001, the Los Angeles Lakers forward is the only child of Ziaire Williams Sr. and Marquita Fields-Williams. Both of his parents have military backgrounds and placed a strong emphasis on education, discipline and responsibility while raising their son.
Williams’ personal life has also entered an important new chapter. He is engaged to longtime partner and model Paris Timan after proposing to her during a Bruno Mars concert at SoFi Stadium in October 2026. The couple also share a young son, Story Sullas Williams. Here is everything known about Ziaire Williams’s fiancée, child, parents and siblings.
Who Is Ziaire Williams’s Fiancée?
Ziaire Williams is engaged to Paris Timan, a professional model who has been his longtime partner.
The couple became engaged on October 2, 2026, during a Bruno Mars concert at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Williams chose a particularly appropriate moment to propose, getting down on one knee while Mars performed “Marry You.”
Timan accepted the proposal as confetti fell around the couple, and the moment was shown on the stadium’s giant video screen. SoFi Stadium later publicly congratulated Williams and Timan.
The engagement attracted considerable attention because it came only months after Williams returned to Southern California by signing with the Los Angeles Lakers.
As of now, Paris Timan should therefore be described as Ziaire Williams’s fiancée rather than simply his girlfriend.
Who Is Paris Timan?
Paris Timan is a professional fashion and commercial model represented by ONE Management.
Her agency lists her on its modeling roster in both Los Angeles and New York. Timan has also built a public profile through fashion, lifestyle content and creative clothing projects.
She has reportedly worked with recognizable fashion brands, including SKIMS and Wrangler, while also creating customized clothing through her own fashion-related projects.
Timan has supported Williams throughout different stages of his NBA career, including his time with the Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets.
Public social-media posts featuring the couple date back to at least 2022, meaning their relationship had already lasted several years before Williams proposed in 2026.
How Long Have Ziaire Williams and Paris Timan Been Together?
Publicly available photographs indicate that Ziaire Williams and Paris Timan have been together since at least 2022.
Timan was seen supporting Williams while he was still playing for the Memphis Grizzlies and even incorporated his jerseys into some of her fashion projects.
The relationship continued when Williams moved to the Brooklyn Nets in 2024 and eventually returned to Southern California with the Lakers in 2026.
After several years together and welcoming a child, Williams proposed to Timan at SoFi Stadium in October 2026.
Are Ziaire Williams and Paris Timan Married?
No. As of now, Ziaire Williams and Paris Timan are engaged but have not publicly announced that they are married.
Williams proposed on October 2, 2026, and Timan accepted. No wedding date has been publicly confirmed.
Does Ziaire Williams Have Children?
Yes. Ziaire Williams and Paris Timan have one son, named Story Sullas Williams.
The couple’s transition into parenthood became public in 2025. Timan announced her pregnancy on social media and later shared photographs and reflections about becoming a mother.
Williams therefore became a father before his engagement to Timan.
Story Sullas Williams
Story Sullas Williams is the son of Ziaire Williams and Paris Timan.
Story was born in 2025. Timan publicly celebrated motherhood later that year and described her son as one of the greatest blessings of her life.
The couple has generally avoided making their child a major part of Williams’ basketball publicity, choosing instead to share selected family moments on their own terms.
Williams’ engagement to Timan in 2026 therefore represented another step for a couple that had already started building a family together.
Who Are Ziaire Williams’s Parents?
Ziaire Williams’s parents are Ziaire Williams Sr. and Marquita Fields-Williams.
Williams was born and raised in Lancaster, California, as their only child. His parents were closely involved in both his education and athletic development.
One of the most distinctive parts of the Williams family background is that both parents served in the United States military.
Marquita served in the Army and Air Force, while Ziaire Sr. served in the Marine Corps. Their military experience helped create a household in which discipline, accountability and preparation were emphasized from an early age.
Ziaire Williams’s Father: Ziaire Williams Sr.
Ziaire Williams’s father is Ziaire Williams Sr..
Williams Sr. served in the United States Marine Corps before building a civilian career. Earlier profiles of the family reported that he worked for 7 Up in Sylmar, California.
His most important contribution to Ziaire’s basketball story, however, came through his involvement in his son’s early development.
Ziaire began playing basketball at around five years old. By approximately eight, he was already training under his father’s guidance.
Williams Sr. helped his son learn the fundamentals of the game while also making sure basketball did not become more important than academics and character.
How Ziaire Williams Sr. Helped His Son Develop
Williams did not become one of America’s highest-rated recruits simply because of his height and natural athletic ability.
His father introduced structure into his basketball development while Ziaire was still extremely young.
That training became increasingly valuable as Williams grew into a long and versatile wing. His skills gradually expanded beyond simply scoring, as he developed ball-handling, passing and defensive ability.
His parents also ensured that basketball success did not lower expectations in school.
Education remained especially important when Williams began receiving scholarship offers from some of the most powerful basketball programs in the country.
Ziaire Williams’s Mother: Marquita Fields-Williams
Ziaire Williams’s mother is Marquita Fields-Williams.
Marquita also has an extensive military background. She served in both the United States Army and United States Air Force.
After her military service, earlier biographical profiles identified her as working as a probation officer.
Her professional and military experiences contributed to the disciplined environment in which Ziaire grew up.
Marquita was also directly involved in major basketball decisions. She appeared alongside her husband during Ziaire’s college recruitment and supported his eventual decision to attend Stanford.
Education Was Important to Ziaire Williams’s Parents
One of the clearest themes in Williams’ upbringing was the importance his parents placed on education.
Ziaire eventually became a five-star basketball prospect with offers from programs including UCLA, USC, Arizona and North Carolina.
Despite those basketball opportunities, his family considered academics an important part of the college decision.
Williams ultimately chose Stanford University, one of the country’s most academically selective universities.
When he announced his commitment in 2020, both of his parents participated in the announcement. His mother wore Stanford clothing while his father also celebrated the decision.
The choice reflected the balance between basketball and academics that Ziaire Sr. and Marquita had emphasized throughout their son’s childhood.
Does Ziaire Williams Have Siblings?
No. Ziaire Williams is an only child.
Reliable biographical information consistently identifies him as the only child of Ziaire Williams Sr. and Marquita Fields-Williams.
Williams therefore does not have any publicly documented brothers or sisters.
This is an important distinction because online biographies occasionally attach unrelated people with the Williams surname to professional athletes. In Ziaire’s case, authoritative biographical information describes him as his parents’ only child.
How Being an Only Child Shaped Ziaire Williams
Growing up without siblings meant Williams received considerable individual attention from his parents.
His father could work directly with him on basketball, while both parents could closely monitor his academics and personal development.
That did not mean Ziaire lacked competition growing up. Basketball provided him with opportunities to play against older and more experienced athletes as he developed.
His parents’ structured approach helped him deal with expectations that became increasingly intense once national recruiting services began identifying him as one of America’s best players.
Ziaire Williams Grew Up in Lancaster, California
Williams was born in Lancaster, California, on September 12, 2001.
He began playing basketball at approximately five years old and showed enough interest in the game that his father began giving him more structured training a few years later.
Williams eventually attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks.
By his junior season, he had developed into a dominant player, averaging approximately 27 points and 10 rebounds per game and attracting attention from elite college basketball programs.
His combination of height, length, shooting and ball-handling made him one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2020 recruiting class.
Ziaire Williams Transferred to Sierra Canyon
For his senior high school season, Williams transferred to Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, California.
The move placed him on one of the country’s most famous high school basketball teams.
Williams played alongside several talented prospects, including Bronny James, during a season in which Sierra Canyon attracted significant national attention.
He averaged 15.0 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while helping Sierra Canyon win the CIF Southern Section Open Division championship.
Williams also produced one of the most memorable moments of his high school career when he made a game-winning shot at the buzzer in a regional playoff victory over Etiwanda.
His performances earned him Los Angeles Times Player of the Year recognition and McDonald’s All-American honors.
Ziaire Williams Represented Team USA
Before reaching college basketball, Williams also represented the United States internationally.
He was part of the American team at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup in Greece.
The United States won the gold medal, giving Williams international success before the end of his high school career.
The experience allowed him to compete against some of the best young basketball players in the world and strengthened his status as an elite prospect.
Why Did Ziaire Williams Choose Stanford?
Williams became the highest-rated basketball recruit in Stanford program history when he committed to the Cardinal.
The decision reflected both his basketball goals and the academic priorities emphasized by his family.
Stanford offered an elite education alongside Pac-12 basketball, giving Williams an opportunity that appealed strongly to both him and his parents.
He chose Stanford over programs including UCLA, USC, Arizona and North Carolina.
His decision became one of the biggest recruiting victories in Stanford basketball history.
Ziaire Williams’s Season at Stanford
Williams spent one season at Stanford during the 2020-21 campaign.
He appeared in 20 games, making 14 starts, and averaged 10.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
One of his most impressive performances came against Washington when he recorded 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
The performance made him only the second Stanford player to record a triple-double and the first in program history to do so with assists as one of the categories.
After his freshman season, Williams declared for the 2021 NBA Draft.
Ziaire Williams Became a Top-10 NBA Draft Pick
The New Orleans Pelicans selected Williams with the 10th overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft.
His draft rights were subsequently traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
The selection represented the culmination of a journey that had begun with childhood training sessions alongside his father in Lancaster.
Williams entered the NBA as one of the youngest players in his draft class and with significant expectations because of his combination of size and perimeter skill.
Ziaire Williams Began His NBA Career With Memphis
Williams spent his first three NBA seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies.
As a rookie, he appeared in 62 regular-season games and started 31, averaging 8.1 points per game.
He also gained playoff experience as Memphis established itself as one of the Western Conference’s emerging teams.
Injuries and competition for playing time complicated later seasons, but Williams continued developing as a long wing capable of defending multiple positions and attacking in transition.
Ziaire Williams Was Traded to the Brooklyn Nets
In July 2024, Memphis traded Williams to the Brooklyn Nets.
The move gave him a fresh opportunity and a larger role.
Williams spent two seasons in Brooklyn and produced some of the most productive stretches of his NBA career.
During the 2025-26 season, he averaged a career-high 10.2 points per game while continuing to contribute defensively and in transition.
Brooklyn eventually declined his team option following the season, making Williams a free agent.
Ziaire Williams Joined the Los Angeles Lakers
Williams returned home to Southern California in 2026 when he signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The move brought his career full circle. Williams grew up in Lancaster, played high school basketball in the Los Angeles area and had even worn a Jr. Lakers jersey as a child.
As of now, the NBA lists Williams as a 6-foot-9 Lakers forward wearing No. 11.
He enters the 2026-27 season competing for an important role on the wing, with his size and defensive versatility giving him an opportunity to contribute to Los Angeles immediately.
2026 Has Been a Major Year for Ziaire Williams
The year 2026 has produced major changes in both Williams’ professional and personal life.
During the summer, he left Brooklyn and signed with the Lakers, returning to his home region after five NBA seasons elsewhere.
Then, in October, he proposed to longtime girlfriend Paris Timan at SoFi Stadium.
The engagement came after the couple had already welcomed their son, Story, in 2025.
Williams therefore enters the next stage of his NBA career not only as a new Lakers player but also as a father and fiancé.
How Ziaire Williams’s Family Shaped His Career
The influence of Williams’ parents can be seen throughout his journey.
His father introduced him to structured basketball training at an early age. Both parents brought military backgrounds that emphasized discipline and responsibility, while education remained important even after their son became one of America’s best basketball recruits.
That combination helped Williams navigate an unusual amount of attention during his teenage years.
He went from Lancaster youth basketball to elite high school competition, Stanford and the NBA without abandoning the values his parents had emphasized.
His family is now growing in a different direction. With Paris Timan and their son Story, Williams has begun building a family of his own while continuing his professional career in the city closest to where his basketball journey began.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ziaire Williams’s Family
Who are Ziaire Williams’s parents?
Ziaire Williams’s parents are Ziaire Williams Sr. and Marquita Fields-Williams. Both have military backgrounds and raised their son in Lancaster, California.
Who is Ziaire Williams’s father?
Ziaire Williams’s father is Ziaire Williams Sr. He served in the United States Marine Corps and played an important role in training his son from a young age.
Who is Ziaire Williams’s mother?
Ziaire Williams’s mother is Marquita Fields-Williams. She served in both the U.S. Army and Air Force and was later identified in biographical profiles as a probation officer.
Were Ziaire Williams’s parents in the military?
Yes. His mother served in the Army and Air Force, while his father served in the Marine Corps.
Who is Ziaire Williams’s girlfriend?
Ziaire Williams no longer has simply a girlfriend. His longtime partner, Paris Timan, became his fiancée after he proposed to her in October 2026.
Who is Ziaire Williams’s fiancée?
Ziaire Williams’s fiancée is professional model Paris Timan, who is represented by ONE Management.
When did Ziaire Williams get engaged?
Williams proposed to Paris Timan on October 2, 2026, during a Bruno Mars concert at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Are Ziaire Williams and Paris Timan married?
No. As of now, Williams and Timan are engaged and have not publicly announced a wedding.
Does Ziaire Williams have children?
Yes. Ziaire Williams and Paris Timan have one son named Story Sullas Williams.
Who is Ziaire Williams’s son?
Ziaire Williams’s son is Story Sullas Williams, whom he shares with his fiancée Paris Timan. Story was born in 2025.
Does Ziaire Williams have siblings?
No. Reliable biographical sources identify Ziaire Williams as the only child of Ziaire Williams Sr. and Marquita Fields-Williams.
Does Ziaire Williams have a brother?
No publicly documented brother is known. Williams is consistently described as an only child.
Does Ziaire Williams have a sister?
No. There is no reliably documented sister; Williams is the only child of his parents.
Where was Ziaire Williams born?
Ziaire Williams was born in Lancaster, California, on September 12, 2001.
What is Ziaire Williams’s full name?
His full name is Ziaire Williams Jr.
Where did Ziaire Williams play college basketball?
Williams played one season at Stanford University during the 2020-21 season.
What pick was Ziaire Williams in the NBA Draft?
Williams was selected with the 10th overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans before his draft rights were traded to Memphis.
What teams has Ziaire Williams played for?
Ziaire Williams has played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers.
Orlando Bloom is a sports journalist and analyst specializing in in-depth NBA coverage, tactical breakdowns, and advanced player analytics. With a passion for professional basketball, he covers everything from trade deadline maneuvers and Draft prospects to team strategies and league-wide trends. Combining detailed stat analysis with game context, Orlando delivers sharp insights and compelling stories for avid basketball fans and casual followers alike.
