Former NBA center Jawann Oldham, who played alongside Michael Jordan on the Chicago Bulls, has passed away at age 68. Oldham died on Monday in Atlanta, as confirmed by Seattle University. His death was reported by The Seattle Times.
Jawann Oldham, a 10-year NBA veteran, began his professional career after a standout college tenure at Seattle University. There, he scored 1,530 points over 104 games and earned induction into the school's Hall of Fame. As a junior, Oldham averaged 17.9 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, followed by 16.9 points and 10.4 rebounds in his senior year.
Selected by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 1980 NBA Draft, Oldham went on to play for eight teams during his decade in the league: the Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, and Indiana Pacers. His career averages stood at 4.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
Oldham's time with the Bulls spanned four seasons from 1982 to 1986, overlapping with Michael Jordan's early years. He was on the roster during Jordan's rookie season in 1984-85 and his second year in 1985-86. That latter season marked Oldham's best performance, where he started 47 games and averaged career highs of 7.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Before his NBA journey, Oldham's college achievements highlighted his potential as a dominant center. His passing leaves a legacy in both collegiate and professional basketball, remembered particularly for sharing the court with one of the game's greatest icons.
