George Mikan

George Mikan – Life, Career, and Legacy

Explore the life of George Mikan (June 18, 1924 – June 1, 2005), America’s first basketball superstar and pioneer. From his early years to his dominance in the professional leagues, rule changes he inspired, post-career advocacy, and lasting influence on the sport.

Introduction

George Lawrence Mikan Jr., often nicknamed “Mr. Basketball,” was the towering figure who transformed the game of basketball in its early professional era. As one of the sport’s first dominant centers, he helped define how big men could shape basketball’s strategies, rules, and public appeal. His career spanned a time when the sport was still finding itself—and through his play, his advocacy, and his life after basketball, Mikan left an indelible imprint on the game.

Early Life and Family

George Mikan was born on June 18, 1924, in Joliet, Illinois.

As a child, Mikan had a serious knee injury that kept him bedridden for a prolonged period. Joliet Catholic High School in Joliet, Illinois.

Initially, Mikan considered a religious path: for a time he attended the Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, with the thought of entering the Catholic priesthood.

Despite his height (he would grow to about 6 ft 10 in, or 2.08 m)

College Years and Development

Mikan enrolled at DePaul University in Chicago (around 1942) where he played for the DePaul Blue Demons men’s basketball program. Ray Meyer saw potential in the lanky, somewhat awkward young man.

One of the signature training methods developed was the Mikan Drill, which involved practicing hook shots (alternating hands) in close quarters under the rim—an exercise designed to build touch, footwork, and balance for big men.

During his college years, Mikan earned high honors: he was named Helms College Player of the Year (1944 and 1945) and was a consensus All-American multiple times.

He led the nation in scoring during the 1944–45 season (around 23.9 PPG) and again in 1945–46.

Professional Career & Greatness

Chicago American Gears (1946–47)

After finishing college, Mikan signed with the Chicago American Gears in the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1946.

However, the team owner attempted to pull the franchise out of the league to create a new league called the Professional Basketball League of America (PBLA), a venture which quickly folded, leaving Mikan and others to be dispersed among other teams.

Minneapolis / Lakers Era (1947–1954, 1956)

Mikan joined the Minneapolis Lakers, and that association would define his legacy.

• In 1948, the Lakers won the NBL title.

• When the NBL teams merged or transitioned into the BAA/NBA, Mikan continued leading the Lakers to dominance. From 1949 through 1954, the Lakers won five championships in six seasons.

• In 1956, Mikan made a brief comeback but ultimately retired for good.

Throughout his career, Mikan showcased several signature strengths:

• Prolific scoring: he was the league’s scoring leader in multiple seasons.

• Dominant rebounding and interior presence.

• Shot blocking and rim protection—he would often swat shots or “goaltend” before rules forbade such play.

• Ambidextrous hook shot—he could score around defenders with finesse from either hand.

Because of his dominance, the NBA adopted several rule changes to mitigate his advantage:

• The goaltending rule to prevent players from swatting a ball once it had a path to the basket.

• The widening of the foul lane (from about 18 feet to 12 feet or more, known as the “Mikan rule”) to push big men further from the basket.

• The eventual adoption of the 24-second shot clock, in part to prevent stalling strategies that limited Mikan’s influence.

By the end of his career, Mikan had scored over 11,764 points across the NBL/BAA/NBA span (with 10,156 in BAA/NBA) and held averages in the neighborhood of 22.6 points and 13.4 rebounds per game.

He was selected to six All-League first teams and played in the first four NBA All-Star games, even earning an All-Star Game MVP.

Post-Playing Career, Advocacy & Later Life

After his retirement from playing, Mikan remained engaged in basketball and civic life.

• He briefly served as head coach of the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1957–58 season, though with limited success (the team struggled and he soon stepped down).

• In 1956, Mikan ran for U.S. Congress in Minnesota’s 3rd District as a Republican candidate but narrowly lost.

• He later practiced law (corporate and real estate) and engaged in business ventures.

• Notably, Mikan was one of the founders of the American Basketball Association (ABA) and served as its first commissioner. Under his leadership, the ABA adopted innovations like the red-white-blue ball and the three-point line.

• Later, in the 1980s, Mikan played a role in bringing professional basketball back to Minneapolis, contributing to the creation of the Minnesota Timberwolves expansion franchise.

In his final years, Mikan struggled with diabetes, kidney problems, and health challenges.

He was also a vocal advocate for players who had retired before the NBA became financially lucrative, campaigning for increased pensions and recognition of the sacrifices early players had made.

George Mikan passed away on June 1, 2005, in Scottsdale, Arizona, due to complications related to his health conditions.

Personality, Influence & Legacy

George Mikan was often described as a “gentle giant”—tough and relentless on the court yet kind, humble, and approachable off it.

His influence on basketball is vast:

• Rule changes he forced (goaltending, lane width, shot clock) shaped how modern basketball is played.

• The Mikan Drill remains a staple in training centers for big men, and its principles influenced later centers (for example, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar reportedly adapted similar footwork and scoring methods).

• He was chosen to numerous all-time and anniversary teams: NBA 50 Greatest Players, NBA 75th Anniversary Team, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1959, inaugural class).

• His jersey number 99 has been retired by the Lakers in his honor.

• His life story draws attention to the hardship early professional players faced, fueling conversations about how we care for retired athletes.

• He is often credited with helping make professional basketball a credible and respected sport in the U.S.

When superstar Shaquille O’Neal became a Laker, he famously paid for Mikan’s funeral, saying: “Without number 99, there is no me.”

Memorable Quotes & Reflections

While George Mikan was not primarily known as a prolific quotable personality, a few reflections of his ethos stand out:

• His legacy is sometimes summarized by his nickname: “Mr. Basketball”, denoting a figure who personified the sport’s aspirations in its formative years.

• When reflecting on the state of early players’ pensions and recognition, Mikan remarked on the unfairness of how the pioneers of the sport were often left behind financially and institutionally. (Referenced in retrospective articles)

• His commitment to evolving as a player—embracing training methods and drills in an era that lacked the modern infrastructure—speaks to an unspoken philosophy: be the change in the system you navigate.

Lessons from George Mikan

1. Pioneering Can Be Hard
   As one of the first true stars of pro basketball, Mikan bore the burden of shaping the sport’s identity—not just playing it. He faced rule changes, evolving competition, and limited institutional support.

2. Adaptation & Growth
   Rather than relying solely on height or size, he worked vigorously on footwork, conditioning, and technique, showing that raw talent must be refined to endure.

3. Legacy Beyond Stats
   Though his scoring and championships were exceptional, his greatest contributions were structural: changing how the game was played, how it was regulated, and how future generations viewed the center position.

4. Advocacy Matters
   His post-career fight for the rights and dignity of early-generation players reminds us that building a sport is not just about glory—it’s also about caring for those who laid its foundations.

Conclusion

George Mikan is not just a name in basketball lore—he is a foundational pillar. Through dominance on the court, instrumental rule changes, and principled advocacy off it, he helped transform basketball from a regional pastime into a national institution. Although his later life was touched by hardship and health struggles, his influence continues every time a big man practices inside moves, every time a paint defense adjusts to lane size, and every time we honor the early trailblazers of sports.