Remember the ABA: Dan Issel (original) (raw)

Dan Issel

Nickname: "The Horse"

Ht. 6-9
Wt. 240
College - Kentucky
ABA Teams: Kentucky (1970-71 to 1974-75), Denver (1975-76)

2-Time All-American at Kentucky. Member of 1971 ABA All-Rookie Team. 6-Time ABA All-Star. 5-Time Member of ABA All-Pro Team. ABA's 2nd All-Time Scorer behind Louie Dampier. 1972 ABA All-Star Game MVP. 1971 ABA Co-Rookie of the Year. Led ABA in scoring in 70-71 with 29.4 ppg. Holds ABA Record for most points in 1 season with 2,538 in 71-72. Member of 74-75 Kentucky Colonels Championship Team. Member of Basketball Hall of Fame. Unanimous Choice for ABA All-Time Top 30 Team.

Brett Ballantini's April 1999 interview with Dan Issel.

From Jim O'Brien's 1972-73 Complete Handbook of Pro Basketball:

Real workhorse, which is something he should appreciate since he raises his own thoroughbreds in off-season . . . He's wasted little time proving himself a superstar, sharing Rookie of the Year honors in first season as ABA's leading scorer (29.9) . . . And following that by averaging 30.6 his second season, after switching from center to forward to accommodate Artis Gilmore . . . Great outside shooter, extremely strong in the middle, and one of the hardest workers in league. Pulled in almost 2,000 rebounds past two seasons, including 29 in one contest . . . Scored 21 points in ABA All-Star Game in his rookie season, and won All-Star Game MVP Award his second season . . . Set ABA season scoring record in 1971-72 with 2,538 points, playing gruelling 3,570 minutes . . . Became first ABA player to score 5,000 points in two year span . . . Large commercial success in Louisville, which takes some doing . . . Led University of Kentucky to three consecutive SEC titles . . . Greatest scorer in 67-year history of University of Kentucky . . . "My goal," he says, "is to become a 'complete pro' at both ends of the court."