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George MikanGeorge Lawrence Mikan (born June 18, 1924 in Joliet, Illinois) is a former basketball player from the United States. Standing at 6 feet, 10 inches (2.08 m), he is regarded as the first successful "big man" in basketball history. Mikan was born in Joliet, Illinois to Croatian parents and played college basketball at DePaul University (1941-45). He began playing professional basketball with the Chicago Gears of the National Basketball League. When that team folded, he signed with the Minneapolis Lakers, who joined the National Basketball Association in 1948. Mikan was one of the most dominant players in the early years of the NBA. Mikan scored 11,764 points (22.6 ppg) in nine pro seasons, which was the best in league history when he retired. He led the league in scoring six times (1946-1952), including a career-high 28.4 ppg in 1951. He led the league in rebounding in 1953 (1,007, 14.4 rpg) and in rebounding average (1952, 13.5 rpg). Annually, he was one of the league leaders in free-throw attempts (4,597 for his career). Mikan always wore his trademark round-rimmed eyeglasses while playing. Mikan and the Lakers won 5 league championships during his playing days. He retired after the 1953-1954 season, but returned briefly in the 1955-1956 season. He also coached the team in 1957-1958. In later years, Mikan was the first commissioner of the American Basketball Association; he introduced the league's trademark red, white and blue basketball. Mikan suffers from diabetes, which resulted in one of his legs being removed in the late 1990s. The Minnesota Timberwolves honored Mikan by placing a statue of him from his playing days in the lobby of the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mikan is in the Basketball Hall of Fame and was named one of the league's 50 greatest players in 1996. Despite the differences in the play and rules of NBA basketball over the years, analysts believe that Mikan would have been a star in any era. NBA big men who came after him - including Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kevin Garnett - have learned from watching Mikan's moves and acknowledge his greatness. External links Mikan, George Mikan, George Mikan, George Mikan, George
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