American · Chicago, Illinois · Born 7 June 1944American basketball player who starred at University of Michigan before winning two NBA championships with the New York Knicks in the 1970s.
Cazzie Lee Russell was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1944. New York Knicks selected him first overall in the 1966 NBA Draft after leading Michigan to the NCAA championship. His 12-season career produced 15.1 points per game. He was selected to one All-Star game. The Knicks drafted him alongside Bill Bradley — creating a celebrated small forward competition that became one of the NBA's most discussed positional battles. Russell's explosive scoring ability off the bench made him one of the first elite sixth men, a role he filled with consistent double-figure production. He later played for the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. He is noted for his work after basketball as a sports chaplain and community minister, founding the Gospel of Sports ministry that worked with athletes at all levels. His 12-season career as a reliable scorer on multiple quality teams reflects genuine professional achievement even if his overall profile remains lower than his first-overall draft status might suggest.
High-scoring college career at Michigan and solid NBA career as sixth man
How They Played
Pure shooter with excellent jump shot, intelligent court awareness, reliable scorer off the bench
Lasting Impact
College basketball legend who helped popularize the jump shot, successful NBA role player
Career Honours
- All-Star 1x
- NCAA Championship (Michigan 1966)
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| New York Knicks | 1966–1971 | 358 |
| Golden State Warriors | 1971–1974 | 230 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 1974–1977 | 194 |
| Chicago Bulls | 1977–1978 | 82 |
American Athletes