In the Front Row | DAN ISSEL on the Wild ABA Years & His Road to NBA Legend

Dan Issel couldn’t make his high school JV team—and says he was Kentucky’s third choice at center. He went on to become a Basketball Hall of Famer.

On In The Front Row with Mike Vaccaro, Issel shares the stories behind his journey from Batavia, Illinois, to the Kentucky Wildcats, Kentucky Colonels, and Denver Nuggets.

Hear what it was like playing for Adolph Rupp, winning an ABA championship alongside Artis Gilmore and Louie Dampier, and coaching Denver’s historic 1994 playoff upset of the Seattle SuperSonics.

Plus:
• Why Kentucky almost never happened
• The teammate who scored 73 points when everyone knew the plan
• His pick for basketball’s GOAT—and where Dr. J belongs
• Bill Walton’s hilarious Hall of Fame assumption
• Playing in a 184–182 game with only four three-point attempts
• The faith and family behind his basketball journey

Issel also discusses his book, “Dan Issel: From Kentucky Wildcat to NBA Legend,” and why telling the whole story—including the difficult chapters—mattered to him.

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