Honey Russell
From Hoopedia
John David "Honey" Russell (born May 31, 1902 in Brooklyn, New York, died November 15, 1973) was an American basketball player and coach. As a player he was 6'1" tall and weighed 195 lbs.
He turned professional after his sophomore year at Brooklyn's Alexander Hamilton High School (NY), playing for numerous early 20th century pro teams, including many in the American Basketball League. He won ABL championships with the Cleveland Rosenblums and the New York Jewels. He was all-ABL four times while playing for Cleveland and the Chicago Bruins. He won the Eastern League title in 1933 with the Trenton Moose.
He may have played in more pro games than anyone else in history. His career included over 3,200 pro games (a number that would take a modern NBA player 30-40 years to equal).
When he played for the Chicago Bruins, he also played in one game for the National Football League Chicago Bears in 1928. George Halas owned both teams.
In addition, he coached and managed for over 30 years; in all of the professional leagues in existence during his career. He was the first coach of the NBA Boston Celtics, 1946-48.
He coached at Seton Hall University, 1936-41 and 1949-60. He amassed a career record of 295-129 and took Seton Hall to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) seven times. In 1953 Pirates won the NIT title. While coaching at Seton Hall, Russell earned his bachelor's degree in 1936 and a master's degree from NYU in 1938.
In 1945-46 he coached Manhattan College to a 12-4 mark, while at the same time coaching the Trenton Tigers of the American Basketball League.
In 1973, Russell was enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player. He is also enshrined in the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame.
Teams as a Player
- Brooklyn Visitations, Metropolitan League (ML) (1919-23)
- Plymouth Shawnees, Pennsylvania State League (1920-21)
- East Hampton Hampers, Interstate League (IL) (1920-24)
- North Hampton Hampers, IL (1922-23)
- Albany Senators, New York State League (NYSL) (1921-23)
- Mohawk Indians, NYSL (1921-22)
- Brooklyn Pros, ML (1921-23)
- Yonkers Leaguers, ML (1925-26)
- Rochester Centrals, American Basketball League (ABL) (1928-29)
- Chicago Bruins, ABL (1926-30)
- Bridgeton Gems, Eastern League (1931-32)
- Paterson Crescents, ABL (1932-35)
- Brooklyn Hillhouse, ABL (1932-33)
- Trenton Moose, ABL (1932-34)
- Cleveland Rosenblums, ABL (1925-27)
- Brooklyn Jewels, ABL (1932-33, 1936-37)
- New Britain Jackaways, ABL (1934-35)
- Newark Mules, player/coach, ABL (1934-35)
- New York Jewels, ABL (1935-36, 1937-39)
- New Haven Jewels, ABL (1937-38)
- Wilkes-Barre Barons, ABL (1939-40)
- Brooklyn Indians, player/coach, ABL (1943-44)
- New York Gothams, ABL (1944-45)
Teams as a Coach
- Chicago Bruins, ABL (1926-30)
- Paterson Crescents, ABL (1932-35)
- Newark Mules, player/coach ABL (1934-35)
- Wilkes-Barre Barons, ABL (1939-40)
- Brooklyn Indians, player/coach, ABL (1942-44)
- Camden Indians, ABL (1942-48)
- New York Gothams, ABL (1944-45)
- Trenton Tigers, ABL (1945-46)
- Boston Celtics, National Basketball Association (1946-48)
- Schenectady Pleasant Valley Packers, ABL (1949-50)
