George Mikan Dynasty Era (1950-1954)
The original big man who redefined basketball and prompted rule changes that shaped the modern NBA.
George Lawrence Mikan Jr. (June 18, 1924 – June 1, 2005), nicknamed "Mr. Basketball", was an American professional basketball player for the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBL, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). He won seven NBL, BAA, and NBA championships in nine seasons, an NBA All-Star Game MVP trophy, and three scoring titles.
- Championships Won
- 7 (1947 NBL, 1948 NBL, 1949 BAA, 1950 NBA, 1952 NBA, 1953 NBA, 1954 NBA)
Lore & Background
Mikan was so dominant that he prompted several significant rule changes in the NBA, including the introduction of the goaltending rule, the widening of the foul lane—known as the "Mikan Rule"—and the creation of the shot clock. He played in the first four NBA All-Star games and was a member of the first six All-BAA and All-NBA Teams. After his playing career, he became one of the founders of the American Basketball Association (ABA), serving as commissioner of the league, and was instrumental in forming the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves expansion team.
In Their Own Story
The air inside the Minneapolis Auditorium was thick with the scent of floor wax and stale popcorn, but the crowd roared with a deafening intensity. It was Game 7 of the 1954 Finals. The clock ticked down in the fourth quarter, the score knotted tight against Syracuse. Then, the ball found Mikan at the high post. He didn't look; he simply pivoted, his massive frame shielding the ball from two defenders like a fortress wall. With a soft, almost gentle push, he released the shot over the outstretched arms of the opposition. The leather sphere arced perfectly through the rafters. As the buzzer sounded, Mikan allowed himself a rare smile for the city that had crowned him king. In that moment, the blueprint for every future Lakers championship was written in the dust of the hardwood.
Reader's Guide
The Minneapolis Lakers won championships in the 1947–48 NBL season, the 1948–49 BAA season, and the 1949–50, 1951–52, 1952–53, and 1953–54 NBA seasons. Mikan led the BAA/NBA in scoring three times (1947–48 BAA, 1948–49 BAA, 1949–50 NBA).
Did You Know?
- Mikan used the underhanded free-throw shooting technique long before Rick Barry made it his signature shot.
- He shattered one of his knees as a boy and was kept in bed for a year and a half.
- Mikan originally wanted to be a Catholic priest and attended Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago.
- He was named to the 25th, 35th, and 50th NBA anniversary teams.
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