Know Your Team: Russell Byrd

Island Storm

6’7

Guard

From Fort Wayne, Indiana

Don't be fooled by his unassuming exterior - Russell Byrd has shown in his three years in NBL Canada that he is consistent and dominant on offence and is never a player to take lightly.

Byrd was part of one of the most consistently successful NCAA teams of recent times, the Michigan State Spartans. Under coach Tom Izzo, Byrd played in three Division 1 title tournaments, reaching the regional semi-finals each time, and the east regional finals in 2014, where the team missed out on a final four place after a six-point loss to Connecticut.

After spending his final college year with the Master's Mustangs, Byrd was selected by the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the third round of the 2015 NBA D-League draft. Midway through the season, he joined Alicante in Spain.

Byrd first joined the NBL Canada in 2016, signing with the Moncton Miracles. He quickly made his presence on offence felt, and went to average 14.4 points and 2.4 assists per game.

The next season he became starting shooting guard for the KW Titans, where he made big improvements on defence. In fifteen games for the Titans, he averaged 12.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals, before being traded to the St. John's Edge for Jarion Henry.

Outside of his professional life, he has had two children with fellow Michigan State basketball alum Klarissa Bell.

In the 2018 offseason, Byrd agreed to a multi-year contract with the Island Storm, the first in the team's history. Given the performances he has already put up in NBL Canada and the improvements to his game he continues to make, it's not hard to see why the Storm have put so much faith in him.