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Photo of Honey Russell

John D. "Honey" Russell

A fiercely competitive player and a motivating bench coach, John “Honey” Russell’s career impacted a large span of basketball history. As a pro, he played during the barnstorming days, and later, when the sport modernized itself and moved to big city arenas, Russell shifted to coaching. At the tender age of 16, Russell began his professional career. Over the next three decades, he played in more than 3,200 games for a wide variety of teams in virtually every pro league. Russell, considered the top defensive player of his era, starred with the Brooklyn Pros of the Metropolitan League from 1921 to 1923, and was a four-time All Star with Cleveland and Chicago in the American Basketball League from 1925 to 1931. During many of his 21 seasons in the pros, Russell served as a player-coach. That translated into future success as Russell later had two successful terms as Seton Hall’s coach, including an NIT championship in 1953.

Enshrined

1964

Born

May 31, 1902 Brooklyn, NY

Died

November 15, 1973

College

New York University

Professional Career

Albany Senators Allentown Bridgeton Gems Bridgeton Moose Brooklyn Americans Brooklyn Hillhouse Brooklyn Indians Brooklyn Jewels Brooklyn Pros Chicago Bruins Cleveland Rosenblums Dunmore Easthampton Hampers Freeland Hamburg Hazelton Honesdale Honesdale Maples Larksville Larks Mohawk Indians Nanticoke New Haven Jewels New York Gothams New York Jewels Newark Mules Northampton Hampers Paterson Crescents Plymouth Shawnees Rochester Centrals Trenton Moose Tunkhannock Wilkes-Barre Barons Yonkers Chippewas Yonkers Leaguers

Career Stats

16 AGE HE BEGAN
HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER
3,200+ NUMBER OF GAMES
PLAYED IN HIS CAREER
2x ABL CHAMPION
1 EASTERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
4x ABL ALL-STAR
1953 NIT CHAMPIONSHIP
AS SETON HALL COACH