This Date in 1924: George Mikan is Born (1924-2005)

Cover photo: George Mikan shoots a hook shot over the New York Knicks’ Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton. Clifton was the second African-American to appear in an NBA game, behind the Washington Capitols’ Earl Lloyd. Photo credit: Sarasota Times.

Basketball Hall of Famer George Mikan was born in Joliet, Ill. on this date in 1924. 

Mikan did not play high school basketball, but played four years at Chicago’s DePaul University, where he was a 3-time consensus All-American from 1944-1946. In 98 collegiate games he averaged 19.1 points per game and in his junior and senior seasons averaged 23.3 and 23.1 points per game. As a shot-blocker, Mikan was so prolific that in 1944 the NCAA enacted a rule that prohibited goaltending. He was Sporting News Player of the Year in 1945. 

In 1946, Mikan landed with the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League. In his only season with the Gears, the team won the league championship, recording a 26-18 record. Mikan that season averaged 16.9 points. After the 1946-47 season, Gears’ owner Maurice White founded the Professional Basketball League of America, which folded during its inaugural season. Mikan played for the Minneapolis Lakers of the National Basketball League in 1947-48, and averaged 21.3 points per game. He led the team to a 43–17 record, and the Lakers beat the Oshkosh All-Stars, Tri-Cities Blackhawks, and Rochester Royals (3-1 in the championship series) on their way to an NBL title. 

The 1948-49 Lakers went 44-16 in the Basketball Association of America - the Lakers, Fort Wayne Pistons, Indianapolis Jets, and Rochester Royals had moved to the BAA from the NBL. Mikan averaged 28.3 points per game in 60 games, and Minneapolis defeated the Chicago Stags in the Western Division Semifinals, the Rochester Royals in the Western Division Finals, and the Washington Capitals (4-2) in the BAA Finals. Laker coach John Kundla would go on to lead the Lakers to four more NBA championships in 1950, 1952, 1953, and 1954. 

On August 3, 1949, the BAA merged with the NBL, creating the National Basketball Association. While the BAA had the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks, the NBL was present in cities like Fort Wayne, Sheboygan, and Akron, playing in small gymnasiums. The BAA played games at Madison Square Garden and the Boston Garden. Seventeen teams would be a part of this new NBA, which was led by Maurice Podoloff, who served as the NBA’s first commissioner, until 1963. 

In his first NBA season, Mikan averaged 27.4 points. At 6 feet, 10 inches and listed at 245 pounds, he was a big player for his time. The 1949-50 Lakers went 51-17 and defeated the Syracuse Nationals 4-2 in the NBA Finals. Mikan averaged 32.2 points in the series. 

Mikan’s celebrity was so much so at the time that prior to a game at Madison Square Garden in 1949, the marquee read:

“WED BASKETBALL: GEO MIKAN vs. KNICKS”.

For four consecutive seasons from 1951-1954, Mikan was named an all-star. His averages in those seasons:

1950-51: 28.4 points and 14.1 rebounds 

1951-52: 23.8 points and 13.5 rebounds 

1952-53: 20.6 points and 14.4 rebounds 

1953-54: 18.1 points and 14.3 rebounds 

His averages of 13.5 and 14.4 rebounds led the NBA. 

The 1950-51 Lakers lost to the Rochester Royals 3-1 in the Western Division Finals, but defeated the New York Knicks in seven games in the 1952 Finals. Mikan averaged 21.7 points and 17.4 rebounds in that Finals series. 

The 1952-53 Lakers defeated the Knicks again in the Finals, this time in five games. Mikan averaged 20.8 points. The following season, the Lakers defeated the Nationals 4-3 in the Finals. Mikan averaged 18.1 points in that series. Clyde Lovellete, a 6 foot, 9 inch forward who would go on to star in Minneapolis and for the St. Louis Hawks, was a rookie on the 1954 title team. He would go on to become a 4-time All-Star and is in the Hall of Fame. Slater Martin, a 7-time All-Star and Hall of Famer, was Mikan’s point guard. 

After one year off, Mikan returned to the Lakers for the 1955-56 season. He played 20.7 minutes per game and averaged 10.5 points and 8.3 rebounds in his final NBA season. His seven seasons of professional basketball yielded averages of 23.1 points and 13.4 rebounds. He averaged 22.3 points and 13.4 rebounds in his 379 NBA games. 

In 1959, Mikan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. From 1967-1969, he was the Commissioner of the American Basketball Association, but eventually resigned from his position in 1969 to continue his successful career as a lawyer and businessman. 

During the recognition of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players at halftime of 1997’s All-Star Game in Cleveland, Boston Celtic legend Bill Russell helped Mikan up onto the stand to be recognized by the crowd. It is a touching moment. 

“Mr. Basketball” is also known for The Mikan Drill, something that goes back to his college days and his DePaul coach Ray Meyer. In the drill, a player stands at the basket on one side and puts the ball in off the glass. This is repeated on the other side of the basket and so forth. The drill works on fundamentals and conditioning, and is done in pre draft workouts. 

“The NBA’s first superstar. George Mikan is a towering figure in the history of the sport,” was the narrator opening to Mikan’s NBA 75 video. 

On June 1, 2005, Mikan passed away in Scottsdale, Ariz. at the age of 80. He had been dealing with diabetes and kidney failure.

Remembering George Mikan today who was born on this date in 1924.