Antawn Jamison

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12 Mar 2024

Antawn Jamison

Antawn Cortez Jamison, born on June 12, 1976, is a retired American professional basketball player known for his 16-season career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Currently, he serves as the director of pro personnel for the Washington Wizards.
Jamison gained prominence during his college years playing for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where he was named the national player of the year in 1998. He entered the NBA as the fourth overall pick in the 1998 draft, initially selected by the Toronto Raptors but subsequently traded to the Golden State Warriors for his former Tar Heel teammate, Vince Carter.

During his rookie season with the Warriors, Jamison earned a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Team. Throughout his career, he became a two-time NBA All-Star and secured the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2004. Additionally, he represented the United States national team in 2006.
Following his retirement from professional basketball, Jamison transitioned into various roles within the basketball community. He worked as an analyst for Time Warner Cable SportsNet and served as a scout for the Los Angeles Lakers. In 2019, he joined the Washington Wizards organization as their director of pro personnel. Throughout his career and post-retirement endeavors, Jamison has remained a respected figure in the basketball world.

Antawn Cortez Jamison was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. Due to a clerical error at the hospital, his name was misspelled as "Antawn" on his birth certificate, although it was intended to be "Antwan". Despite the misspelling, the pronunciation remained as "Antoine".
During his youth, Jamison attended Quail Hollow Middle School in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he excelled in both basketball and football, playing as a quarterback.
He continued his basketball career at Providence High School in Charlotte, where he achieved significant success. Following his senior season, Jamison was recognized as a McDonald's All-American. During that season, he averaged impressive statistics of 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 4.5 blocks per game, showcasing his exceptional talent on the court.

Antawn Jamison had a remarkable college basketball career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he played for three seasons. During this time, he showcased his exceptional skills, averaging 19.0 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.
In his junior year, Jamison's outstanding performance on the court earned him prestigious honors, as he was awarded both the Naismith and Wooden Awards as the most outstanding men's college basketball player for the 1997–98 season.

Despite his eligibility to play one more season at the collegiate level, Jamison decided to forgo his senior year and enter the NBA draft in 1998. However, he later returned to complete his degree, earning a B.A. in Afro-American and African Studies and graduating in August 1999.
Jamison's contributions to the University of North Carolina's basketball program were further honored when his jersey number, #33, was retired at the Dean E. Smith Center on March 1, 2000. He became the seventh Tar Heel player to receive this prestigious recognition.

Antawn Jamison began his NBA career after being selected with the fourth overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors. However, his rights were quickly traded to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for his former North Carolina teammate and close friend, Vince Carter.
Jamison spent the first five seasons of his NBA journey with the Golden State Warriors, where he made a significant impact on the court. He showcased his scoring prowess by achieving a career-high of 51 points on two separate occasions. Notably, he accomplished this feat in back-to-back games against the Seattle SuperSonics and the Los Angeles Lakers, with the Warriors emerging victorious in the latter matchup.
During the 2000–2001 NBA season, which marked his third year in the league, Jamison enjoyed a stellar performance, averaging a career-high of 24.9 points per game. His scoring ability and contributions on the court solidified his reputation as one of the league's premier forwards.

In 2003, Antawn Jamison was involved in a significant nine-player trade that saw him move from the Golden State Warriors to the Dallas Mavericks. Along with Jamison, forwards Danny Fortson and Chris Mills, and guard Jiří Welsch were sent to the Mavericks, while the Warriors acquired guard Nick Van Exel, center Evan Eschmeyer, guard Avery Johnson, and forwards Popeye Jones and Antoine Rigaudeau.
Joining the Mavericks provided Jamison with his first taste of postseason basketball. During the 2003–2004 NBA season, he played a pivotal role coming off the bench, contributing significantly to the team's success. Jamison's efforts were recognized when he was named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year.
Despite a successful regular season where the Mavericks finished with a record of 52–30, they faced a tough challenge in the playoffs, ultimately falling to the Sacramento Kings in five games in the first round. Nonetheless, Jamison's contributions helped solidify his reputation as a valuable asset in the league.