Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the detailed profile of Cazzie Russell:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Cazzie Lee Russell
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born June 7, 1944
  • Hometown: Chicago, Illinois, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters)
  • Weight: 220 pounds (100 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 6 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)
  • Jersey Numbers: #33, #32, #15, #18
  • Position: Small forward / Shooting guard
  • High School: Carver High School, Chicago, Illinois
  • College: University of Michigan (1963–1966)
  • NBA Draft: 1966, Round 1, 1st overall pick by the New York Knicks
  • Teams Played For:
    1. New York Knicks (1966–1971)
    2. Golden State Warriors (1971–1974)
    3. Los Angeles Lakers (1974–1977)
    4. Chicago Bulls (1977–1978)
    5. Atlanta Hawks (1978)
  • Championship Rings: 1 NBA Championship (1970 with the New York Knicks)
  • Children: Not publicly available
  • Siblings: Information not publicly detailed

Player Archetype / Play Style

Cazzie Russell’s player archetype was that of a high-volume scoring wing, a polished small forward who could carry offense with touch, shot-making, and the confidence to work as a featured option. Defensively, he was built more to hold his spot on the wing than to function as a havoc creator, using his size and strength to compete across forward matchups while bringing steadiness more than disruptive playmaking. Offensively, his role was much more pronounced: he was a primary scorer who could fill it up from the outside, operate in the mid-range, and punish defenses with a smooth scoring package that translated from his dominant Michigan years into a long pro career. Physically, Russell had strong wing size for his era at 6-foot-5 and 218 pounds, with good hands, a sturdy frame, and the kind of shooting touch that made him dangerous in both structured sets and freer scoring sequences. His overall play style was that of a composed, skilled scorer who leaned on polish, versatility, and natural offensive feel rather than pure explosiveness. (Basketball Reference)

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Cazzie Russell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
NBA.com — Cazzie Russell | Forward | New York Knicks
University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library — Cazzie Russell, Basketball All-American