Bryon Russell is a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 11 seasons. He was born on December 31, 1970, in San Bernardino, California, and attended Long Beach State University, where he played college basketball.
Russell was selected by the Utah Jazz in the second round of the 1993 NBA draft. He spent the majority of his career with the Jazz, where he played alongside Hall of Famers Karl Malone and John Stockton. Russell was known for his defensive skills and was often tasked with guarding the opposing team's best player.
Russell played in the NBA Finals twice with the Jazz, in 1997 and 1998, but the team lost both times to the Chicago Bulls. In the 1997 Finals, Russell famously guarded Michael Jordan in the final seconds of Game 6, but Jordan hit a game-winning shot over him to secure the championship for the Bulls.
In addition to his time with the Jazz, Russell also played for the Washington Wizards and the Los Angeles Lakers. He retired from the NBA in 2006 with career averages of 7.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game.
After retiring from basketball, Russell became a coach and mentor for young players. He also started a clothing line called "Russell Street" and appeared on the reality TV show "Survivor" in 2002.
Russell's basketball career was marked by his defensive prowess and his role as a key player on successful Jazz teams in the 1990s. While he never won an NBA championship, he was respected by his peers for his hard work and dedication to the game.
🏀