Don Ohl

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Donald Jay Ohl (born April 18, 1936 in Murphysboro, Illinois) is an American former professional basketball player who spent 10 seasons (1960–1970) in the National Basketball Association.

[edit] Professional career

Ohl played for the Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets, and St.Louis/Atlanta Hawks. Among the best distance shooters of his time, the 6'3", 190-pound guard scored 11,549 points and appeared in five NBA All-Star Games in his career. His nickname was "Waxie," so called because of his short hair style.

Shortly after the 1963-64 campaign, Ohl was involved one of the first so-called megatrades, this one an eight-player deal between the Pistons and Bullets. On June 9, 1964, the Pistons sent Ohl, center Bob Ferry, forward Bailey Howell, forward Les Hunter and the draft rights to guard Wally (later Wali) Jones to the Bullets in exchange for forwards Terry Dischinger and Don Kojis and guard Rod Thorn. The deal turned out to a fortuitous one for the Bullets, as Howell and Ohl became mainstays with the team.

Ohl experienced his finest hour in the 1965 playoffs, which saw the Bullets eliminate the St. Louis Hawks in four games in round one. In the Western Division finals, Ohl and future Hall of Fame guard Jerry West were locked in a tense shootout that saw West and the Los Angeles Lakers finally prevail in six games, each of which was decided by eights points or fewer. Ohl averaged 26.1 points in 10 games that post-season.

[edit] College career

Ohl attended Edwardsville High School in Edwardsville, Ill., and the nearby University of Illinois.

[edit] External links

• Career stats @ basketball-reference.com
• All-Time Largest Trades in NBA History