George Mikan

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Mikan won seven NBL, BAA, and NBA championships in nine seasons, an NBA All-Star Game MVP trophy, and two scoring titles (1949-50 and 1950-51). He played in the first four NBA All-Star games and was a member of the first six All-BAA and All-NBA Teams. He prompted several significant rule changes, 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. After his playing career, he became one of the founders of the American Basketball Association (ABA), serving as commissioner, and was instrumental in forming the Minnesota Timberwolves expansion team. He was involved in a long-standing legal battle against the NBA to increase pensions for pre-lucrative-era players. He died in 2005 of complications from chronic diabetes.

In Their Own Story

The sound of the ball hitting the backboard echoed before Mikan's hook shot even left his hand. In Game 1 of the 1950 NBA Finals against Syracuse, Lakers reserve guard Bob Harrison hit a 40-foot buzzer beater to secure a two-point win, but it was Mikan who anchored the team through the series, averaging 31.3 points per game in the playoffs as Minneapolis claimed the first-ever NBA championship at 110–95 in Game 6. Even when injury struck, his will remained unbroken; during the 1951 Western Division Finals against Rochester, Mikan fractured his leg but returned to the court taped with a plate, effectively hopping on one foot while still averaging over 20 points per game. Decades later, he recalled that despite the pain, the drive to win never wavered. He played through injuries and punished opposing centers with hard fouls, establishing a reputation as one of the grittiest players in history.

Reader's Guide

Mikan was born on June 18, 1924, in Joliet, Illinois. He attended Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and later Joliet Catholic. He entered DePaul University in 1942. In college, he was coached by Ray Meyer, who transformed him into a confident, aggressive player. Mikan learned to make hook shots with either hand, and his workout routine became known as the Mikan drill. He was named Helms NCAA College Player of the Year in 1944 and 1945, was a three-time All-American, and led DePaul to the 1945 NIT title, where he was named MVP. He led the nation in scoring in 1944–45 and 1945–46. He signed with the Chicago American Gears in 1946, then joined the Minneapolis Lakers via dispersal draft in 1947. He led the Lakers to NBL, BAA, and NBA championships. He retired after the 1953–54 season but returned briefly in 1956.

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 a seminary before focusing on basketball.
• He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959.
• Mikan was named to the 25th, 35th, 50th, and 75th NBA anniversary teams.

The Architect of Modern Big-Man Play

George Mikan Jr., nicknamed 'Mr. Basketball,' fundamentally altered professional basketball by proving that tall players could be agile and dominant. Standing 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) and weighing 245 lb (111 kg), he wore thick, round spectacles while utilizing an ambidextrous hook shot to score over smaller defenders. His prolific rebounding and shot-blocking forced the NBA to introduce the goaltending rule and widen the foul lane, a change known as the 'Mikan Rule.' He also pioneered the underhanded free-throw technique decades before Rick Barry adopted it. Mikan's presence was so overwhelming that he necessitated the creation of the shot clock after opponents refused to shoot against his Lakers in a 19–18 game.

A Career Defined by Unprecedented Dominance

Mikan won seven championships in nine seasons across the NBL, BAA, and NBA. He led the Chicago American Gears to an NBL title and was named MVP of the World Professional Basketball Tournament after scoring 100 points in five games as a rookie. With the Minneapolis Lakers, he scored more than 1,000 points in his first NBL season, becoming the only player to do so. He won three scoring titles and earned an NBA All-Star Game MVP trophy while participating in the first four NBA All-Star games. In the 1950–51 season, he averaged a career-best 28.4 points per game and 14.1 rebounds per game, second only to Dolph Schayes.

Legacy Beyond the Court and Legal Battles

After retiring, Mikan co-founded the American Basketball Association (ABA) and served as its commissioner. He was instrumental in forming the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves expansion team. In his later years, he led a long-standing legal battle against the NBA to increase pensions for retired players who had played before the league became lucrative. His contributions were honored with induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959 and selections to the 25th, 35th, 50th, and 75th NBA anniversary teams.

From Seminary Student to Collegiate Star

Born on June 18, 1924, in Joliet, Illinois, Mikan shattered a knee as a boy, confining him to bed for a year and a half. He initially attended Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary aiming to become a Catholic priest before transferring to DePaul University. There, coach Ray Meyer transformed the clumsy, nearsighted Mikan into an elite athlete through intensive workouts, speed bag drills, and dancing lessons. At DePaul, he led the nation in scoring for two consecutive seasons (23.9 ppg in 1944–45 and 23.1 ppg in 1945–46) and won the 1945 NIT title, scoring a tournament-record 120 points.