Dischinger, a forward who earned Olympic gold while studying chemical engineering at Purdue University in Indiana, was drafted into the NBA by the Chicago Zephyrs - now the Washington Wizards - in 1962 and was voted NBA Rookie of the Year in 1963.

He played part-time during his rookie season in order to complete his courses for his undergraduate degree at Purdue. 

He was named an All-Star in each of his first three seasons, before taking the 1965-1966 and 1966-1967 seasons off to serve in the US Army.

Dischinger returned to the NBA in 1967 and played the next five seasons for the Detroit Pistons before spending the last year of his career with Portland Trail Blazers.

At age 19, and just finishing his sophomore year of college, Dischinger had been the youngest member of the team to play at Rome 1960.

As a starting guard/forward, Dischinger was teamed with future Basketball Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Jerry Lucas

The Rome 1960 US team was collectively inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. 

Dischinger started all eight games in the Italian capital, scoring 90 total points, with an 11.3 points-per-game average as the fourth-leading scorer on the team.

"It was a fairy tale because I played with my idol, Oscar Robertson," he recalled many years later.

"The experience made me a much better player."

Dischinger was also inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019 for his standout career at Purdue.

After his playing career, Dischinger found an even more successful second career in orthodontics - which he maintained he enjoyed even more than basketball.

He was considered one of the most influential orthodontists in the last 40 years, holding numerous patents and travelling the world to teach and influence the next generation of orthodontists.

Dischinger, who died on October 10, is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary.