Jawann Oldham, whose 10 NBA seasons included the first three of Michael Jordan’s career with the Chicago Bulls, died Monday in Atlanta. He was 68.
Oldham’s alma mater, Seattle University, confirmed his passing to the Seattle Times.
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"He was one of the great basketball players to come out of Seattle," Phillip Petty, a childhood friend, told the Times‘ Percy Allen. "He was a versatile player for his height. He was probably one of the fastest centers at that time. He could score when he had to, but man he could block shots.”
Oldham played 329 games for eight NBA teams: the Denver Nuggets (1980-81), Houston Rockets (1981-82), Bulls (1982-86), New York Knicks (1986-87), Sacramento Kings (1987-88), Orlando Magic (1990), Los Angeles Lakers (1990), and Indiana Pacers (1991).
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Listed at 7 feet tall and 215 pounds, Oldham was the 41st overall pick by the Nuggets in the 1980 NBA Draft. He appeared in only four games for the Nuggets, however, after being waived in October 1980. He signed with the Rockets for the 1981-82 season.
Oldham played sparingly in his 22 games with the Rockets. He scored 34 points, blocked 10 shots and collected 24 rebounds off the bench.
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With the Bulls, Oldham carved out a niche as a valuable big man after they landed Jordan with the third pick in the 1984 NBA Draft.
Oldham saw his most extensive playing time in 1985-86, starting in 47 of his 52 games and averaging 24.5 minutes per game for the Bulls. He averaged 7.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game that year.
Yet, prior to the 1986 season, Oldham was traded to the Knicks for two future draft picks.
“He and the front office didn’t get along well, and sometimes that affects you mentally,” Jordan said of the trade at the time.
Oldham bounced around the league for the remainder of his NBA career, and continued to play in the Continental Basketball Association for several seasons after his final game with the Pacers in 1991.
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Later, Oldham would be instrumental in helping launch professional basketball leagues in South Korea, China, and Japan. He also founded a basketball academy in Dubai.
Oldham remains among the best basketball players in the history of Seattle University, ranking second on the schools’ all-time rebounding list (965) behind Elgin Baylor, and tenth among career scorers (1,530 points). He averaged 14.8 points and 9.3 rebounds while shooting 52.4 percent on field goals in 102 NCAA games.
Newsweek