Jimmy Oliver
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Allen Oliver is an American
professional basketball
player who was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers
in the 2nd round (39th overall) of the 1991 NBA Draft
.
, located in West Lafayette, Indiana
and played under head coach Gene Keady
. The 6'6", 208 lb guard-forward appeared in 31 games in his Sophomore season, playing behind Center Steve Scheffler
and alongside guard Matt Painter
. He averaged 5.3 points while averaging 18.2 minutes per game in his first eligible season.
and to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament
with a 22-8 record.
appearance. He finished his college career with a 40.6% accuracy from 3-point land. Jimmy led the Boilers
in assists (89) and minutes per game (35.4) in his Senior season. He played his last collegiate game in the NABC All-America Game at the 1991 NCAA Final Four, where he recorded a game-high 25 points.
in the 1991 NBA Draft
. Oliver played his rookie season for the Cavaliers, averaging 3.6 ppg in 27 games. After being invited to the Detroit Piston
's pre-season camp, he joined the CBA
for the 1992-93 season, where he averaged 17.3 ppg in 15 games. After one season in the CBA, Oliver returned to the NBA for the 1993-1994 season. He played for the Boston Celtics
, where he averaged 4.9 ppg and started six of the 44 games he played. After leaving the league for two seasons, he returned for the expansion draft
, where he played a season with the Toronto Raptors
for the 1996-97 season. He finished his last two NBA seasons with the Washington Bullets(1997–98) and the Phoenix Suns
(1998–99). Playing on five different NBA teams throughout five seasons, he played in a total of 78 games (14 starts) and scored 331 points with 34% three point and .772% free throw accuracy.
After his NBA tenure, Jimmy Oliver played for the Greek club Maroussi Athens
and he won the Saporta Cup
in 2001. He scored 31 points in the final match against Chalon BC.
During the NBA lockout
, Jimmy played for the US national team in the 1998 FIBA World Championship
, teamed up with the likes of another former Boilermaker, Brad Miller
. Jimmy Oliver was the top scorer of the team averaging 11.8 points per game, winning the bronze medal.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
in the 2nd round (39th overall) of the 1991 NBA Draft
1991 NBA Draft
The 1991 NBA Draft took place on June 26, 1991 in New York City, New York. Dikembe Mutombo is regarded as the best overall pick in this draft, becoming one of the greatest defensive centers in the history of the league. He was a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner and an eight...
.
1987-1989
Jimmy "Slice" Oliver attended Purdue UniversityPurdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
, located in West Lafayette, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and played under head coach Gene Keady
Gene Keady
Lloyd Eugene "Gene" Keady is a basketball coach. Currently an assistant coach at St. John's, he is most notable for being the head basketball coach at Purdue University for 25 years, from 1980 to 2005.-Kansas State :...
. The 6'6", 208 lb guard-forward appeared in 31 games in his Sophomore season, playing behind Center Steve Scheffler
Steve Scheffler
Stephen 'Steve' Robert Scheffler is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.-1986-1988:...
and alongside guard Matt Painter
Matt Painter
Matt Painter is the current head coach of the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team.-Playing career:Matt Painter attended Delta High School in Muncie and played basketball for current basketball coach and former athletic director, Stan Daugherty...
. He averaged 5.3 points while averaging 18.2 minutes per game in his first eligible season.
1989-1990
Jimmy started his Junior season out receiving more minutes and improved his shooting percentage to nearly 50%, while also improving his points average to 8 a game. He helped lead the Boilers to a 2nd place finish in the Big Ten ConferenceBig Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
and to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament
1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 1990, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in Denver, Colorado...
with a 22-8 record.
1990-1991
Averaging 19.2 points a game during his Senior year, fourth in the conference, and owning an .861 free throw percentage to lead the conference, he was an All-Big Ten First Team selection. Jimmy led Purdue to a second straight NCAA Tournament1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1991, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
appearance. He finished his college career with a 40.6% accuracy from 3-point land. Jimmy led the Boilers
Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball
The Purdue Boilermakers basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in NCAA Division I and is a member of the Big Ten Conference. Purdue basketball holds the record for most Big Ten Championships with 22, along with being the only program in the conference to boast winning records...
in assists (89) and minutes per game (35.4) in his Senior season. He played his last collegiate game in the NABC All-America Game at the 1991 NCAA Final Four, where he recorded a game-high 25 points.
Pro career
Jimmy Oliver was selected in the 2nd round with the 39th pick by the Cleveland CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
in the 1991 NBA Draft
1991 NBA Draft
The 1991 NBA Draft took place on June 26, 1991 in New York City, New York. Dikembe Mutombo is regarded as the best overall pick in this draft, becoming one of the greatest defensive centers in the history of the league. He was a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner and an eight...
. Oliver played his rookie season for the Cavaliers, averaging 3.6 ppg in 27 games. After being invited to the Detroit Piston
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
's pre-season camp, he joined the CBA
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
for the 1992-93 season, where he averaged 17.3 ppg in 15 games. After one season in the CBA, Oliver returned to the NBA for the 1993-1994 season. He played for the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, where he averaged 4.9 ppg and started six of the 44 games he played. After leaving the league for two seasons, he returned for the expansion draft
Expansion draft
An expansion draft, in professional sports, occurs when a sports league decides to create one or more new expansion teams or franchises. This occurs mainly in North American sports. One of the ways of stocking the new team or teams is an expansion draft...
, where he played a season with the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
for the 1996-97 season. He finished his last two NBA seasons with the Washington Bullets(1997–98) and the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
(1998–99). Playing on five different NBA teams throughout five seasons, he played in a total of 78 games (14 starts) and scored 331 points with 34% three point and .772% free throw accuracy.
After his NBA tenure, Jimmy Oliver played for the Greek club Maroussi Athens
Maroussi BC
Maroussi Athens B.C. , is a Greek professional basketball club that is based in Maroussi, a northern suburb of Athens, Greece. The club's full name is Gymnastikos Syllogos Amarousiou. The club competes in the Greek League. Its long-time owner was Armodios Vovos of the BVIC construction firm...
and he won the Saporta Cup
Saporta Cup
Saporta Cup was the name of the second-tier level European professional club basketball competition, where the National Cup winners from all over Europe played against each other. The competition was organized by FIBA Europe...
in 2001. He scored 31 points in the final match against Chalon BC.
1998
During the NBA lockout
Lockout (industry)
A lockout is a work stoppage in which an employer prevents employees from working. This is different from a strike, in which employees refuse to work.- Causes :...
, Jimmy played for the US national team in the 1998 FIBA World Championship
1998 FIBA World Championship
The 1998 FIBA World Championship was the 13th FIBA World Championship, an international basketball tournament held by the International Basketball Federation and hosted in Athens, Greece from July 29 to August 9, 1998...
, teamed up with the likes of another former Boilermaker, Brad Miller
Brad Miller (basketball)
Bradley Alan Miller is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA...
. Jimmy Oliver was the top scorer of the team averaging 11.8 points per game, winning the bronze medal.