Walker D. Russell Sr. (born October 26, 1960) is an American retired professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

player. He was a 6'5"

shooting guard The shooting guard (SG), also known as the two, two guard or off guard,Shooting guards are 6'3"–6'7"BBC Sports academy URL last accessed 2006-09-09. is one of the five traditional basketball positions, positions in a regulation basketball game ...

born in

Pontiac, Michigan Pontiac ( ') is a city in and the county seat of Oakland County, Michigan, Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located roughly northwest of downtown Detroit, Pontiac is part of the Metro Detroit, Detroit metropolitan area, and is vari ...

. Russell played collegiately for

Oakland Community College Oakland Community College (OCC) is a Public college, public community college with five campuses in Oakland County, Michigan. Established in 1964, OCC is the largest community college in Michigan, with the state's third-largest undergraduate enr ...

, the

University of Houston The University of Houston (; ) is a Public university, public research university in Houston, Texas, United States. It was established in 1927 as Houston Junior College, a coeducational institution and one of multiple junior colleges formed in ...

, and

Western Michigan University Western Michigan University (Western Michigan, Western or WMU) is a Public university, public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. It was initially established as Western State Normal School in 1903 by Governor Aaron T. B ...

. He was selected with the 9th pick of the fourth round (78th overall) of the 1982 NBA draft by the

Detroit Pistons The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit. The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...

. He also played for the

Atlanta Hawks The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Easte ...

and the

Indiana Pacers The Indiana Pacers are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Pacers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Ea ...

. His stint in the CBA saw him playing for the Detroit Spirits, which later became the Savannah Spirits, and the Kansas City Sizzlers. Russell also took his talents overseas to the

Philippine Basketball Association The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines, composed of twelve company-branded Franchising, franchise teams. Founded in 1975, it is the first professional basketball league in Asia ...

playing for the Presto Ice Cream Makers and the Purefoods TJ Hotdogs. Since retiring as a player, Russell has served as an assistant coach for the

Toronto Raptors The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), E ...

and a player scout for the

New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the Na ...

.Pre-Draft Workouts: Epperson and Walker Willing To Do Whatever It Takes
by Tom Kertes, June 21, 2006. His son, Walker Russell, Jr., played collegiately for Chipola Junior CollegeKnicks Sign Four Players as Camp Begins
/ref> and

Jacksonville State University Jacksonville State University (JSU or Jax State) is a public university in Jacksonville, Alabama, United States. Founded in 1883, Jacksonville State offers programs of study in six academic schools leading to bachelor's degree, bachelor's, mas ...

, and has played professionally in the NBA and the NBA D-League. Both father and son started their NBA career with the Pistons. He was the last Pacers player to wear #31 before

Reggie Miller Reginald Wayne Miller (born August 24, 1965) is an American former professional basketball player who List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise, played his entire 18-year career in the National Basketball Assoc ...

Notes

External links

NBA & college stats
@ basketballreference.com 1960 births Living people American expatriate basketball people in Canada American expatriate basketball people in the Philippines American men's basketball players Atlanta Hawks players Detroit Pistons draft picks Detroit Pistons players Detroit Spirits players Great Taste Coffee Makers players Houston Cougars men's basketball players Indiana Pacers players Junior college men's basketball players in the United States Kansas City Sizzlers players Magnolia Hotshots players Oakland Community College alumni Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball) Philippine Basketball Association imports Savannah Spirits players Shooting guards Basketball players from Pontiac, Michigan Toronto Raptors assistant coaches Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball players 21st-century African-American sportsmen 20th-century African-American sportsmen {{1960s-US-basketball-bio-stub