Dan Issel is one of the hardest working players in basketball history. He played in more than 1,200 games in his professional career and, in fact, only missed 24 games for the Kentucky Colonels and Denver Nuggets.
Nicknamed “The Horse,” Issel was the model of durability and consistency. His success was based largely on an old-fashioned, blue-collar work ethic. Dan had a rugged offensive game that featured strong, decisive moves in the paint and a reliable jump shot from 15 feet. A star at the University of Kentucky under Hall of Fame coach Adolph Rupp, Issel set 23 school records, including most points and rebounds, and he led the Wildcats to three Southeastern Conference titles.
In his senior year at Kentucky, Issel averaged 33.9 points per game and upped that average to 36 points in the postseason to help Kentucky reach the Elite Eight.
Issel enjoyed a 15-year ABA/NBA career with the Kentucky Colonels and the Denver Nuggets and concluded his Denver career as the franchise leader in rebounds
Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993, Dan is currently the President of NBA2LOU, an organization leading the City of Louisville’s bid for an NBA expansion franchise.
Be sure to catch this interesting episode of A Mick A Mook and A Mic on December 22nd, and meet one of basketball’s iconic players.