Breakers add ex-Jazz star Bryon Russell 4-11-07
April 11, 2007 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Santa Barbara News Release
Santa Barbara, CA - Bryon Russell, a 13-year NBA veteran who spent his first nine seasons in Utah, has joined the Santa Barbara Breakers for their first IBL home appearances this weekend against the Seattle Mountaineers.
Russell, a 6-7, 225-pound swingman from Long Beach State, averaged 7.9 points and 3.5 rebounds in his NBA career. His teams made the playoffs 11 times, including the 1997 and '98 NBA Finals against Chicago. Russell was immortalized in the 1998 Finals when Michael Jordan eluded him in the closing seconds and hit "The Shot" that gave the Bulls their sixth title.
Breakers coach Curt Pickering announced that children (16 & under) who come with an adult will be admitted free for Friday's and Saturday's games with Seattle.
Pickering has signed five players in the last two days, including three with 25 years of NBA experience. On Wednesday, Santa Barbara added four players to its International Basketball League roster, including high-flying guard Toby Bailey (UCLA, Phoenix Suns) and 6-9 Samaki Walker (Louisville, 10 years in NBA with 6 teams). In 2002, Walker helped the L.A. Lakers claim their third straight NBA title. The other signees on Wednesday were Fred Vinson and 6-7 Jerry Dupree.
Russell, who's known for his defense, is one of five Breakers who recently played for the Hollywood Fame in the ABA.
"I've watched him play the last few months and he's still a force at 36 years old," said Breakers coach Curt Pickering. "He one of those special players who makes his teammates better."
The Breakers (0-1) will make their home debut at SBCC's Sports Pavilion on Friday at 7:05 p.m. against Seattle (1-2). The same teams will clash on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. In its third season, the IBL features entertaining basketball and lots of offense with teams averaging 127 points, thanks to a 22-second shot clock, one timeout per 12-minute quarter and immediate inbound passes.
Santa Barbara will play nine of its next 10 games at SBCC. The Breakers suffered a 137-130 loss to the Tri Valley Titans last Friday in Livermore, despite 38 points from Mike Efevberha and 35 by Billy Knight.
All home games can be heard on KZSB radio (1290 AM) with Gerry Fall calling the action. Tickets are available at the Arlington box office (963-4408), Ticketmaster outlets and at ticketmaster.com.
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International Basketball League Stories from April 11, 2007
- Breakers add ex-Jazz star Bryon Russell 4-11-07 - Santa Barbara
- Chico Force ready for big third season - Chico Force
- Knights Move Into Larger Office within McCamly Place - Battle Creek Knights
- Breakers adds NBA vets Bailey and Walker to roster - Santa Barbara
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