The ABA scoring record‐holder joins after a standout run in Taiwan
Cluj signs dynamic scorer Daron 'Fatts' Russell
Straipsnis
4 Minutė skaityti
Perennial Romanian League champion U‑BT Cluj‑Napoca has signed electric scorer Daron “Fatts” Russell, the club announced on Friday.
Russell (1.80 meters, 27 years old) split time last season with Turkish side Pinar Karsiyaka and New Taipei DEA in Taiwan. He averaged 16.1 points, 4.7 assists and 1.6 steals over 14 games in the Turkish League – including a 40-point, 8-assist effort against eventual EuroLeague champion Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. Russell was worth 17.0 points, 4.6 assists and 1.8 steals in eight BCL Games, too. He joined New Taipei in February and finished at that league’s runner-up in scoring with 25.7 points while also dishing 5.6 assists per game.
After playing college basketball at Rhode Island and Maryland, Russell began his professional career in Montenegro with Mornar Bar in 2022 and started with a bang by posting 41 points in his ABA League debut and following that up with a league-record 47 in Round 2 against Zadar. His averages in that season were 26.8 points and 7.3 assists to lead the league in both categories.
Russell finished that season in Turkiye with Galatasaray Istanbul and stayed in the country with Manisa the next season and Karsiyaka after that. He will make his BKT EuroCUp debut this season with Cluj.