AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has signed guard Walker Russell Jr. from the NBA D-League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Prior to his signing, Russell Jr. led the D-League with 9.9 assists per game and averaged 16.0 points in 16 games for the Mad Ants this season. He recorded seven points/assists double-doubles and dished out a season-high 19 assists to go with 19 points at the Bakersfield Jam (1/9/12). Russell Jr. has recorded 12-plus assists five times and scored 20-plus points four times this season.
Russell Jr. was a member of the Pistons 2011-12 training camp roster before being waived just before the start of the season. He was also a member of the Pistons’ team at the 2007 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and was invited to the New York Knicks’ 2007-08 training camp. A local product from Rochester, MI, he’s the son of former Piston Walker D. Russell. In 17 games last season, he averaged 17.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 7.9 assists in 37 games with the Mad Ants.
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