Antawn Jamison
A smooth-scoring forward with a knack for offensive rebounds, he carved out a long NBA career defined by consistent production and quiet professionalism.
Born 1976 (age 50)·American basketball player·Birthday: June 12·Generation X
Biography
Antawn Jamison arrived at the University of North Carolina as part of a celebrated recruiting class and left as the 1998 National Player of the Year, sharing the honor in a historic tie with his teammate Vince Carter. Drafted fourth overall by the Toronto Raptors, he was immediately traded to the Golden State Warriors, where he began a steady, productive journey across the league. Jamison wasn't a flashy superstar, but a reliable 20-point, 8-rebound threat with a clever array of scoop shots and put-backs. His career peaked with two All-Star selections in Washington, forming a potent scoring duo with Gilbert Arenas. A respected veteran, he played for seven teams, adapting his game and providing leadership, ultimately surpassing 20,000 career points—a milestone of sustained excellence often overlooked in his era.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Antawn was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Antawn Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Antawn's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named the NCAA National Player of the Year in 1998 (co-winner with Vince Carter) after a stellar season at the University of North Carolina.
- Selected as an NBA All-Star twice, in 2005 and 2008, during his tenure with the Washington Wizards.
- Scored over 20,000 points in his NBA career, a mark achieved by fewer than 50 players in league history.
- Won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2004 while playing for the Dallas Mavericks.
Did You Know?
He and Vince Carter were traded for each other on draft night in 1998, a rare immediate swap of top-five picks.
Jamison is one of only a handful of players to have scored 50 points in a game for two different teams (Warriors and Wizards).
He was known for his unorthodox, often off-balance scoop shots around the basket that were highly effective.
After retiring, he returned to the Washington Wizards front office, serving as Director of Pro Personnel.
“I just wanted to be the best teammate and player I could be every single night.”
