Also I believe Issel is the only player to ever score at least 10,000 points & grab at least 5,000 rebounds in both the ABA and then the NBA.
Who was the closest to being the perfect player at every position since you've been a fan
- Thread starter EvilMD
- Start date
I was at that game and I have to agree! By the way , as freshmen Casey was by far the best on the freshman team. by the end of their soph season Issel was the best and he improved more each game than any player I have ever seen at UK [I've been a fanatic since 1957]. I agree that the accident that Casey had probably cost UK 2 more titles. BBN has seen some pretty phenomenal ballplayers but Issel and Davis stand out as a cut above any others.
Going off of the OP's premise of "since you've been a fan", I would put the following team on the floor based on remembering players starting in the early 80's (born in 1976), and going against the grain for a couple of the picks:
PG - Travis Ford
SG - Doron Lamb
SF - Jamal Mashburn
PF - Kenny Walker
C - Anthony Davis
PG - Travis Ford
SG - Doron Lamb
SF - Jamal Mashburn
PF - Kenny Walker
C - Anthony Davis
Agree...So many young ones on this board that have no clue about Big Dan or any others from that time.
Please dont make dumb statements like that. He played against guys that were way better than what you see on NBA courts today..Gracious sakes.
I am certainly not among the oldest posters on this site, but I do remember watching Sam Bowie play, so I'm no spring chicken. And as far as I can tell, if we are talking about sheer ability and not about what they achieved as members of UK, it's hard for me not to believe that nearly all of the very best players at nearly every position (sometimes 2 or 3 deep) have played for Cal. The talent that has passed through over the past 7 seasons is crazy.
C - Cousins
PF - Davis
SF - Mashburn (the lone non-Cal exception)
SG - Booker
PG - Wall
Cousins wasn't among the very best centers while he was a UK player, but the talent was obviously there as a freshman, and he has become the best center to have played at UK (in my lifetime certainly).
Davis is probably the best big man I have ever seen play for Kentucky when you take into account his defensive presence and the way he drew help defenders when he didn't have the ball just to keep him from dunking alley-oops on every possession. To be that good as a freshman is amazing, and he's gotten so much better since.
Booker didn't even start as a Wildcat, but it's hard to argue with what he is fast becoming in the NBA. He's already scored 70 in an NBA game, and he would probably be wrapping up his JUNIOR year at UK this year if this were 30 years ago. I am certainly projecting sustained growth by putting him ahead of several other worthy choices, but it doesn't seem like he is anywhere near his ceiling as a player, and he's already REALLY good.
John Wall isn't close to my favorite PG to have played for UK. I didn't think he was AS GREAT of a UK player as many of our fan base did (although he was certainly great). But his talent is unmatched, and his achievements as he has grown as a player over the years are unmatched by any UK point guard except perhaps Rondo. And as much as I loved Rondo back in the day, John Wall is currently a better player than Rondo ever was, and Wall is not even to his prime yet.
C - Cousins
PF - Davis
SF - Mashburn (the lone non-Cal exception)
SG - Booker
PG - Wall
Cousins wasn't among the very best centers while he was a UK player, but the talent was obviously there as a freshman, and he has become the best center to have played at UK (in my lifetime certainly).
Davis is probably the best big man I have ever seen play for Kentucky when you take into account his defensive presence and the way he drew help defenders when he didn't have the ball just to keep him from dunking alley-oops on every possession. To be that good as a freshman is amazing, and he's gotten so much better since.
Booker didn't even start as a Wildcat, but it's hard to argue with what he is fast becoming in the NBA. He's already scored 70 in an NBA game, and he would probably be wrapping up his JUNIOR year at UK this year if this were 30 years ago. I am certainly projecting sustained growth by putting him ahead of several other worthy choices, but it doesn't seem like he is anywhere near his ceiling as a player, and he's already REALLY good.
John Wall isn't close to my favorite PG to have played for UK. I didn't think he was AS GREAT of a UK player as many of our fan base did (although he was certainly great). But his talent is unmatched, and his achievements as he has grown as a player over the years are unmatched by any UK point guard except perhaps Rondo. And as much as I loved Rondo back in the day, John Wall is currently a better player than Rondo ever was, and Wall is not even to his prime yet.
Not a dumb statement at all. Today's guys are bigger, stronger, & faster. We tend to romanticize generations of the past. Guys we're not nearly as good as the players of today, even a legend like Dan. The game has left those guys behind just like professional football.
No way you can make that statement with validity. I'll give you that athletes are stronger, and that the game has changed but imagine putting yesterday's athletes into today's game with the ability to train like they do now.
Yea most folks first instinct is to think Issel is just one of those old timers in short shorts and black and white film shooting set shots etc., but if you watch his film especially in the pro days you'll see that his skills would allow him to play today. He was slow footed but quick reacting and used the ball fake and up and under to destroy people. And could knock down jumpers from 15 in consistently. Add to that a rough neck mentality and you had one heck of a player. Ask Kareem or Moses Malone. The guy was just 6-9 and played against those guys day in and day out and averaged 20 a game.
That would be a good argument for sure. There's really no comparing across the years because of the physical differences. But the comparison was putting him into today's game as was then. Not what he could be now. Take the time and compare heights and weights of the Allstars in the 71 season to the 17 allstars. I don't see Archibald, Havlickeck, West, Haywood, & Jabbar taking down Westbrook, Harden, Lebron, KD, Davis, & Cousins. Too big & skilled. There is an argument if those other guys grew up in this generation but even then is unknown.
The all time leader scorer would be just okay today? Wow, we must be watching some seriously high level basketball then with all of these Issel and then some guys running the courts.
PG...Tyler Ulis
2G...Jamal Murray
SF...Jamal Mashburn
C...Anthony Davis
PF...Dan Issel
GBB!!!!
ulis
delk
mashburn
a. walker
davis
everyone on this team can dribble and shoot and play defense. walker and ulis are both play makers, mashburn can iso, delk is a sniper, and davis is above the rim. two supreme passers, two awesome three point shooters, and the best rim protector ever. edit - i went with antoine. this team's spacing and pick and roll with ulis would be ridiculous.
delk
mashburn
a. walker
davis
everyone on this team can dribble and shoot and play defense. walker and ulis are both play makers, mashburn can iso, delk is a sniper, and davis is above the rim. two supreme passers, two awesome three point shooters, and the best rim protector ever. edit - i went with antoine. this team's spacing and pick and roll with ulis would be ridiculous.
7'2" Kareem Abdul Jabbar arguably the greatest center of all time said that, he hated playing against Dan Issel more so than any center he ever played against.... Enough said !
1. Macy. Late game ft shooting. Distributes the ball not only to the open man but the right man. Never turns the ball over in crucial situations. Never forces the game. Heady, team oriented and great mental discipline.
2. Cotton Nash. Scorer. Rebounder and passer. Would have loved to see him play with great players. Used to carrying the load and the team. Competitor and skilled at every phase of the game.
4.Dan the Man Issel. Best player I've ever seen at UK. Not sexy athletic nor svelt. Could shoot the three, free throws, post up game, head fake worked every time. Disciplined, strong, great rebounder for his size. Abdul Jabbar raved about his skill set and toughness. That's good enough for me.
5. Anthony Davis. Best athlete inch for inch. Skill set getting exponentially better each year. Shoots the three, posts up, step back. Good ft shooter, ball handler and decent passer. Long, intelligent, patient on D. Great shot blocker and shot alterer. Winner! Doesn't have to get his to play hard. (See national championship game).
3. Kevin Grevey. Why? I loved him lol. Lefty. Jump shooter. Three point shooter if it would have been instituted. Pull up off the dribble. Adequate passer, good ft shooter ( forget the UCLA fts please lol.
Alternate 3. Kenny walker. Not a three but I could bring AD outside or the Horse and let him post any three that ever played the game up and school him merciously. Winner,warrior, and athletic sky walking beast of a wildcat. Loved his consistency and his love of the Big Blue.
That was fun.
How in the world could I have forgotten Monster Mash at the three? This assignment is impossible!!! It's a disservice for me to leave out so many greats who have enriched my winters for 51 years of ardently following my Beloved Cats.
2. Cotton Nash. Scorer. Rebounder and passer. Would have loved to see him play with great players. Used to carrying the load and the team. Competitor and skilled at every phase of the game.
4.Dan the Man Issel. Best player I've ever seen at UK. Not sexy athletic nor svelt. Could shoot the three, free throws, post up game, head fake worked every time. Disciplined, strong, great rebounder for his size. Abdul Jabbar raved about his skill set and toughness. That's good enough for me.
5. Anthony Davis. Best athlete inch for inch. Skill set getting exponentially better each year. Shoots the three, posts up, step back. Good ft shooter, ball handler and decent passer. Long, intelligent, patient on D. Great shot blocker and shot alterer. Winner! Doesn't have to get his to play hard. (See national championship game).
3. Kevin Grevey. Why? I loved him lol. Lefty. Jump shooter. Three point shooter if it would have been instituted. Pull up off the dribble. Adequate passer, good ft shooter ( forget the UCLA fts please lol.
Alternate 3. Kenny walker. Not a three but I could bring AD outside or the Horse and let him post any three that ever played the game up and school him merciously. Winner,warrior, and athletic sky walking beast of a wildcat. Loved his consistency and his love of the Big Blue.
That was fun.
How in the world could I have forgotten Monster Mash at the three? This assignment is impossible!!! It's a disservice for me to leave out so many greats who have enriched my winters for 51 years of ardently following my Beloved Cats.
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Out of the players I've seen in my relatively young lifetime:
G Ulis - possibly best all-around PG we've had
G Lamb - could not ask for a better 2G, consistently hit shots
F Prince - one of the greatest players in UK history, had it all
F Patterson - could score, defend, rebound, and do anything else a PF should
C Davis - nothing to even say here
G Ulis - possibly best all-around PG we've had
G Lamb - could not ask for a better 2G, consistently hit shots
F Prince - one of the greatest players in UK history, had it all
F Patterson - could score, defend, rebound, and do anything else a PF should
C Davis - nothing to even say here
PG: Anthony Epps
SG: Tony Delk
SF: Derek Anderson (now occurring to me why 1996 team was so good ...)
PF: Jamal Mashburn
C: Anthony Davis
SG: Tony Delk
SF: Derek Anderson (now occurring to me why 1996 team was so good ...)
PF: Jamal Mashburn
C: Anthony Davis
In my lifetime and just for the time they were at UK (KAT may turn out to be one of the best every).
PG -- Brandon Knight -- could defend, could pass, could shoot
SG -- Derek Anderson -- smooth, silky player,
SF -- Jamal Mashburn -- maybe best UK player I have ever seen
PF -- Kenny Walker -- was unstoppable his senior year, huge heart
C -- Anthony Davis -- defense carried him whole year, offense started to come on late in the year
PG -- Brandon Knight -- could defend, could pass, could shoot
SG -- Derek Anderson -- smooth, silky player,
SF -- Jamal Mashburn -- maybe best UK player I have ever seen
PF -- Kenny Walker -- was unstoppable his senior year, huge heart
C -- Anthony Davis -- defense carried him whole year, offense started to come on late in the year
Big Dan may not have had Bam type athleticism but he had tree trunk legs that where strong as hell.He would play today he knew how to move in the paint and fight as well as anyone.
I didn't remember Macy's race (born in '79), but after reading this description I suddenly remembered.
![[roll]](http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/img/emoticons/classic/roll.r191677.gif "roll [roll]")
Anyway, based just on how they played while at UK:
PG - Ulis. His second season was better than Wall's (or Knight's) first due to his shooting. HM: Epps, Turner.
SG - Lamb. He was lights out in 2012. HM: Monk, Anderson.
SF - Prince. Lock-down defender and could shoot. HM: MKG, Walker and/or Mashburn if we're getting really flexible with positions.
PF - Mashburn. The best Pitino-era player by far, and the perfect PF for today's game. HM: Randle, Walker.
C - Davis. Impacted the game without needing the ball. HM: Boogie, Towns, Noel (before he got hurt). Woo for his UL smack talk.
Umm you mean like he was against Dr. J, Iceman, Connie Hawkins. Wilt, Kareem, Baylor, West, Big O.. etc?
It's a ridiculously dumb statement..How old are you anyway? Dan played against the likes of Julius Erving, George McGinnis, Zelmo Beatty, George Gervin etc. Played with Artis Gilmore and Louie Dampier and others on Denver like Alex English and KiKi Vandeweghe...just being a good athlete does not mean you are a good basketball player. you guys are nuts in your thinking.
Ripxcord65 ISSEL didn't take 150 shots a game, come on .Issel without the benefit of the 3 point shot and racked up 2,138 points in 3 years because freshman had to set out! Adolph's 3rd choice at center and left UK as a 2 time AL-AMERICAN. UK's Best Ever! Bar None
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No kidding; one of the most ignorant statements I've seen on the board. Issel could score on anyone and had a complete offensive package.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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Add in George McGinnis and others from the old ABA Indiana Pacers team that could've gone head to head with any of the NBA teams at the time. The Pacers and Colonels were two of the teams that could've held their own with anyone.
I can't believe nobody mentioned Pat Riley. Tells my age but he was only six four and could jump out of the gym. He had a back injury his Junior or senior year but he was unbelievable. He always jumped center for the opening tip and lost very few.
This will surely tell my age fellows:
Dan Issel must be in any conversation during anytime or decade.
So must be Frank Ramsey, Wallce ( Wah Wah) Jones and yes Cliff Hagan.
A few Honn Ments : Bill Spivey, Shelby Linville and Cotton Nash. With respect to all.
Dan Issel must be in any conversation during anytime or decade.
So must be Frank Ramsey, Wallce ( Wah Wah) Jones and yes Cliff Hagan.
A few Honn Ments : Bill Spivey, Shelby Linville and Cotton Nash. With respect to all.
Are you so old that you can't log onto YouTube and watch some old film or just senile? I am old enough to remember watching Issel but he was about 8-9 years passed his prime. 235lb PF/C. He would be pushed around today. He'd be a face up stretch 4 now. Not quick enough to guard a guard or small forward and would be pushed around by any big. He's not putting up those numbers if you dropped him into today's league. You may have an argument if he could train like today's guys but not playing now as he was then. Drop 7' Durant, who outweighed him, & plays like a guard or Lebron into that era. It'd be like watching men play against boys.
