Cazzie Lee Russell was born on June 7,1944 and is an American former professional basketball player and coach.
20 Facts About Cazzie Russell
2.
Cazzie Russell won an NBA championship with the Knicks in 1970.
3.
In 1962, while playing at Chicago's Carver High School, Russell was named the Chicago Sun-Times Boy's Player of the Year.
4.
In 1966, Cazzie Russell averaged 30.8 points per game and was named the College Basketball Player of the Year.
5.
Cazzie Russell was initiated into Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity - Sigma Chapter in 1964.
6.
Cazzie Russell was drafted by the New York Knicks with the first overall pick of the 1966 NBA draft, playing for them for five seasons.
7.
In 1974, Cazzie Russell signed with the Los Angeles Lakers when the Warriors did not offer him a no-cut contract.
8.
In total, Cazzie Russell spent 12 seasons in the NBA.
9.
Cazzie Russell was named the CBA Coach of the Year in 1982.
10.
Cazzie Russell later coached the Wyoming Wildcatters, Grand Rapids Hoops and Columbus Horizon of the CBA and the Mid-Michigan Great Lakers in the Global Basketball Association.
11.
Cazzie Russell served as assistant coach of the Atlanta Hawks for two seasons.
12.
Cazzie Russell was the head coach of the men's basketball team at the Savannah College of Art and Design for 13 seasons, until the college eliminated the sport in 2009.
13.
Cazzie Russell still remains at the college in an administrative capacity.
14.
Cazzie Russell served as an assistant coach at Armstrong State University until 2017 when it was discontinued.
15.
Cazzie Russell spent several years as head coach at Centennial High School in Columbus, Ohio, during the mid-1990s before taking the job in Georgia.
16.
Cazzie Russell is the assistant coach of the Flagler College Saints women's basketball team.
17.
Cazzie Russell participated in army service during the basketball season, including being recalled to active duty during national emergencies.
18.
In 2006, Cazzie Russell was voted as one of the 100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament, a group of former players and coaches in honor of the 100 anniversary of the IHSA boys basketball tournament.
19.
Cazzie Russell received the Bobby Jones Award in 2015 at the Athletes in Action All Star Breakfast, which is held each year at the NBA All Star Weekend.
20.
In 2016 Cazzie Russell was the recipient of the Coach Wooden "Keys to Life" Award at the Athletes in Action Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast, which is held each year at the Final Four.