Defensive Game
The Horse earned his nickname through effort, not defensive brilliance. Held his own at the defensive end but was valued primarily as a scorer and rebounder.
Parcours de Carrière
Kentucky Colonels
1970-1975
Daniel Paul Issel is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats, earning All-American twice en route to a school-record 25.7 points per game for his career. The American Basketball Association Rookie of the Year in 1971, he was a six-time ABA All-Star and a one-time NBA All-Star.
Defensive Game
The Horse earned his nickname through effort, not defensive brilliance. Held his own at the defensive end but was valued primarily as a scorer and rebounder.
Intangibles
Elite scoring IQ and understanding of how to operate as a big man in an up-tempo system. His longevity reflected mental mastery of the professional game.
Tous les articles
Dan Issel scored 27,482 professional points, served as player, coach, and GM for the same franchise, and earned the Hall of Fame on pure relentless production. Here is why #44 belongs in the Ball Arena rafters.
Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
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Baltimore Claws
1975
Denver Nuggets
1975-1985
Vie Personnelle et Famille
Situation
Married
Parents & Frères et sœurs
En Dehors du Terrain
Colorado youth sports programs
Le Saviez-vous ?
Issel combined for 27,482 professional points across his ABA and NBA career, placing him among the highest all-time scorers in professional basketball history.
He played for the Kentucky Colonels — his hometown ABA team — for six seasons before joining Denver, giving him a career defined by two iconic basketball markets.
After retiring as a player, Issel returned to Denver as head coach and later as General Manager, becoming one of the few players to serve a franchise in three major capacities.
His nickname The Horse was a tribute to his durability — he averaged over 20 PPG for eight straight seasons without missing significant time, a feat of consistency that defined his career.
Distinctions de Carrière
ABA All-Star (multiple)
NBA All-Star (1977)
Denver Nuggets #44 retired
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1993)
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