George Mikan was one of the greatest basketball players of all-time. He was the inventor of the pivot and one of the first true great centers in basketball history. He played college basketball at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. He then played professionally for the Chicago Gears of the NBL and the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBL, the BAA, and the NBA. This book is published by Bloomsbury USA.
George Mikan’s parents worked in a tavern in Joliet, Illinois. His parents were of Croatian descent. Mikan was never really much of a basketball player as a young kid because he always believed he would eventually enroll in priesthood. Mikan did not play basketball in high school, even though he was a somewhat athletic kid. However, he played at the local YMCA. Mikan then grew, and became very lanky and tall. Mikan eventually grew even more, Eventually, Notre Dame assistant coach Ray Meyer saw him play at the YMCA and was interested in his lengthy frame. …show more content…
He was going to sign with the Chicago Gears of the NBL. Owner Maurice White gave Mikan a hefty sum to come and play for his team. Mikan, in his first year with the team, averaged 16.1 points per game, won the World Basketball Tournament and won the event’s MVP award. The following year, White tried to create his own basketball league, with the Gears in it. This league folded, and the players were put in a BAA draft to divvy them up to the teams. Mikan was taken with the first pick by the Minneapolis Lakers.
Mikan had a long and successful career with the Minneapolis Lakers. In his career, he scored 10,156 points and had 1,245 assists. With rebounds becoming a stat in 1949, he had 4,167 with the Lakers. Over his career, Mikan had 5 total championships with the Lakers, four All-Star games, and three Season Scoring Championships. Mikan is thought of as one of the greatest players in basketball history. He was then coach of the Lakers for the 1957-1958 season, in which he got