Cazzie Russell is a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the American Basketball Association (ABA) during the 1960s and 1970s. He was born on June 7, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois, and attended Carver High School, where he became a standout basketball player.
Russell went on to play college basketball at the University of Michigan, where he became one of the most dominant players in the country. He led the Wolverines to three consecutive Big Ten championships and was named the Big Ten Player of the Year twice. In his senior year, he averaged 30.8 points per game and was named the National Player of the Year.
After college, Russell was drafted by the New York Knicks in the first round of the 1966 NBA draft. He played for the Knicks for five seasons, where he was a key player on the team that won the NBA championship in 1970. Russell was known for his scoring ability and his smooth shooting stroke, which earned him the nickname "The Smooth Operator."
In 1972, Russell was traded to the Golden State Warriors, where he played for two seasons. He then played for the Chicago Bulls for two seasons before finishing his career in the ABA with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Seattle SuperSonics.
Throughout his career, Russell was a prolific scorer, averaging 15.1 points per game in the NBA and 18.9 points per game in the ABA. He was also a solid rebounder, averaging 4.5 rebounds per game in the NBA and 6.3 rebounds per game in the ABA.
Russell was a two-time NBA All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 1972. He was also a two-time ABA All-Star and was named to the All-ABA Second Team in 1975.
After retiring from basketball, Russell went on to become a successful coach and executive. He coached at the University of Michigan and later served as the general manager of the Chicago Bulls during the Michael Jordan era.
In recognition of his outstanding career, Russell was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. He was also named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996.
Overall, Cazzie Russell was a talented and versatile basketball player who had a successful career in both the NBA and the ABA. He was known for his scoring ability, his smooth shooting stroke, and his leadership on the court.
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