Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s a detailed overview of Dan Issel:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Daniel Paul Issel
  • Nickname: The Horse
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: October 25, 1948
  • Hometown: Batavia, Illinois, USA
  • Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
  • Weight: 235 lb (107 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
  • Shoe Size: 13 (US)
  • Jersey Number: #44 (Kentucky), #44 (Kentucky Colonels), #44 (Denver Nuggets)
  • Position: Center / Power Forward
  • High School: Batavia High School (Batavia, Illinois)
  • College: Kentucky (1967–1970) (Kentucky Wildcats)
  • NBA Draft: Detroit Pistons, 1970, Round 8, Pick 122 (also selected by Kentucky Colonels in ABA Draft)
  • Player Archetype: High-motor scoring big / interior finisher
  • Primary Offensive Role: Low-post scorer with midrange touch and high-volume finishing
  • Defensive Role: Positional interior defender and rebounder
  • Play Style: Relentless paint scorer built on strength, touch, and constant activity around the rim
  • Handedness / Shooting Hand: Right-handed
  • Athletic Profile: Strong, durable big with average vertical but elite stamina and motor
  • Recruiting Status: Highly recruited regional prospect (pre-modern recruiting rankings)
  • Draft Status Detail: Drafted late by NBA but signed with ABA’s Kentucky Colonels where he became immediate star
  • Injury Status Category: Durable career with minimal major injuries
  • Career Stage: Retired (Hall of Fame career)
  • Comparison Style: Kevin McHale-style interior scoring blended with Dave Cowens motor
  • Teams Played For:
    • Kentucky Colonels (1970–1975)
    • Denver Nuggets (1975–1985)
  • Championship Rings: 1 (Kentucky Colonels, 1975 ABA)
  • Parents: Robert Issel (father), Wilma Issel (mother)
  • Children: Two children (private family details limited publicly)
  • Siblings: Not widely documented publicly
  • Athlete Relatives: None known
  • Retirment Age: 36
  • Retirement Year: 1985

Player Archetype / Play Style

Dan Issel fits the player archetype of a high-motor scoring big, functioning offensively as a relentless interior producer who thrived on post touches, midrange jumpers, and constant activity around the basket. Defensively, he operated primarily as a positional interior presence, relying on strength, leverage, and rebounding fundamentals rather than vertical rim protection. Offensively, Issel’s role centered on volume scoring from the low block and high-post face-ups, using his 6’9″, 235-pound frame, strong base, and excellent touch to score efficiently. His play style emphasized durability, nonstop movement, and physical finishing, allowing him to consistently generate points through effort, positioning, and polished interior fundamentals rather than explosive athleticism.

Sources:
Basketball Hall of Fame — Dan Issel Biography
NBA — Dan Issel NBA & ABA Stats
Kentucky Athletics — Dan Issel Bio