Top 50 Utah Jazz Players Countdown: #23 Bryon Russell
Sep 21, 2023, 11:41 AM
Bryon Russell #3 of the Utah Jazz (Credit: Jeff Gross /Allsport)
(Credit: Jeff Gross /Allsport)
SALT LAKE CITY – The countdown for KSL Sports’ 50 greatest Utah Jazz players continues and coming in at number 23 is forward Bryon Russell.
Leading up to the tip-off of the 50th season in Jazz history, Jake Scott and Ben Anderson have been counting down the top 50 players in franchise history as voted on by fans and the media.
Here’s a look at Bryon Russell’s career with the Jazz.
Jazz 50: Rank No. 23 – Bryon Russell
Though his legacy is most closely linked to being on the wrong end of Michael Jordan’s last NBA Championship, Russell was an integral part of two Jazz teams that earned trips to the NBA Finals.
Selected by the Jazz in the second round of the 1993 NBA Draft, Russell quickly found his way into the rotation appearing in 67 games as a rookie including 48 starts.
Though it wasn’t until his fourth season in the league when he became a full-time starter, Russell’s defense, three-point shooting, and athleticism were essential to two Western Conference titles.
#Jazz50: Coming in at #23 … Bryon Russell. @JakeScottZone and @BensHoops are counting down the 50 best players in Jazz history in honor of the 50th anniversary season. @utahjazz | #TakeNote | @utahcommunitycu pic.twitter.com/jm5PZdjya1
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 21, 2023
Over nine seasons with the Jazz Russell averaged 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 26 minutes per game and 366 starts.
The wing’s improvement as a shooter was key to the Jazz’s growth climbing from just nine percent as a rookie to 37 percent during his long tenure in Utah.
Russell ranks ninth all-time in Jazz history for games played, tenth in minutes, seventh in three-pointers made, and sixth in steals.
Follow the rest of the Jazz 50 countdown with Jake and Ben Monday through Friday at 11:30 leading up to the opening day of the regular season. You can see the full list here.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops or on Instagram @BensHoops.
