Jawann Oldham

Jawann Oldham (July 4, 1957 – January 5, 2026) was an American professional basketball player who was a center in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Seattle Redhawks before being selected by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 1980 NBA draft. Oldham played 10 seasons in the NBA for eight teams.

Early life and college career Oldham was born in Chicago and grew up in Seattle, where he attended Cleveland High School and Seattle University, with 1,530 points and 965 rebounds during his college career, after which he was selected by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 1980 NBA draft with the 41st overall pick. He was selected to the CBA All-Defensive Team in 1992.

Post-NBA Oldham was instrumental in founding the Korean Basketball League in South Korea and the Chinese New Basketball Alliance (CNBA) in China in the 1990s, and developed and coached for the bj league in Japan; the Jawann Oldham Professional Development Basketball Academy operates in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

In March 1996, Oldham joined the Hung Kuo Elephants of the Chinese Basketball Alliance (CBA) in Taiwan. In June 1996, Oldham won his first championship ring of his career. Oldham decided not return to the Hung Kuo Elephants in the 1996–97 season, joined the Tianjin Bay Pioneers of the newly formed Chinese New Basketball Alliance (CNBA) in China. In May 1997, Oldham returned to the Hung Kuo Elephants. In August 1997, Oldham won his second CBA champion. Oldham would be unable to play for Hung Kuo Elephants next season because CBA has introduced a height restriction.

Death Oldham died in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 5, 2026, at the age of 68.

Career playing statistics

NBA Source

Regular season

Playoffs

Head coaching record

bj league