Olden Polynice

One collector is trying to find a single signature from every man who ever played for the Jazz — all 370 of them, from the 1974 New Orleans team to today. For many of them, this page is the only one on the internet. Here is Olden Polynice: what he did on the floor, a few things most people never knew, and every card that carries his name. If you own something he signed — or you know who might — there is a note at the foot of this page.

Port-au-Prince born and Bronx schooled, Polynice reached the 1984 Final Four as a Virginia freshman. Chicago drafted him eighth in 1987 and immediately traded him to Seattle for Scottie Pippen — a swap that followed him forever. Over 15 seasons he was the rebounder teams called on, a fixture among the league's offensive-board leaders, with his Jazz years coming in 1999–2001.

In 1993 he went on a hunger strike over the sufferings of the Haitian people. After retiring he coached the ABA's Long Beach Breakers, had worked as color commentator for the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs, and now runs the Polynice Basketball Organization founded with his nephews Brian and Jordan.

HOW HE CAME & WENTHe signed with the Jazz before the 1999-2000 season, arriving with a reputation problem.

Utah Jazz tenure

1999–2001

Position

Center

Born

1964, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Height

6′11″ (211 cm)

Weight

220 lb (100 kg)

College

Virginia

Drafted

1987, 1st round (No. 8), Chicago

Why this player is hard to find

One hundred and sixty-three games across two Jazz spells. Jazz cards exist in quantity but almost none carry a signature.