 Russell Cross skipped his senior year at Purdue to enter the 1983 NBA draft, where he was selected as the 6th pick in the first round by the Golden State Warriors.Cross played in only one NBA season, averaging 3.7 points in 45 games for the Warriors in the 1983-84 NBA season.Cross then signed a contract with the Denver Nuggets, he did not appear in a game and was waived late in the 1984-85 season.