Mikan, George Lawrence

Mikan, George Lawrence
▪ 2006

      American basketball player and lawyer (b. June 18, 1924, Joliet, Ill.—d. June 1, 2005, Scottsdale, Ariz.), transformed basketball as the game's first outstanding big man. His dominating play resulted in several rule changes and led the Minneapolis (now Los Angeles) Lakers to six championships (1948–50; 1952–54). Initially a clumsy player, the 2.8-m (6-ft 10-in)-tall, nearsighted Mikan developed into an offensive threat under the tutelage of coach Ray Meyer at DePaul University, Chicago. Known for his hook shot, Mikan helped DePaul win the National Invitational Tournament in 1945. After graduating the following year, he joined the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League (NBL), and in 1947 he led the Gears to the NBL championship. Later that year he signed with the Lakers, a team that became part of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1949. Mikan played for the Lakers from 1947 to 1954 and again from 1955 to 1956. Although the NBA attempted to limit his effectiveness by widening the free-throw lane (1951) and introducing the 24-second shot clock (1954), Mikan emerged as the game's first superstar. In nine seasons of professional play, he scored 11,764 points in 520 regular games, averaging 22.6 points a game. After retiring in 1956, he briefly coached (1957–58) the Lakers and served as the first commissioner (1967–69) of the American Basketball Association before concentrating on a law career. Mikan was among the first class inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959, and in 1996 he was named one of the NBA's 50 greatest players.

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  • Mikan, George (Lawrence) — born June 18, 1924, Joliet, Ill., U.S. U.S. basketball player and executive. He was an outstanding centre at DePaul University, where he also took his law degree. Standing about 6 ft 10 in. (2.8 m), he was the first of the outstanding big men in… …   Universalium

  • Mikan, George (Lawrence) — (n. 18 jun. 1924, Joliet. Ill., EE.UU.). Jugador y ejecutivo del baloncesto estadounidense. Fue un pívot destacado en la Universidad DePaul, donde se tituló de abogado. De 2,08 m (6 pies 10 pulg.) de altura, fue el primero de una serie de… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • George Lawrence Mikan — (* 18. Juni 1924 in Joliet, Illinois; † 1. Juni 2005 in Scottsdale, Arizona) war ein US amerikanischer Basketballspieler in der NBA. Mit 2,08 m war er der erste erfolgreiche big man im Basketball. George Mikan war Sohn kroatischer Eltern die aus… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • George Lawrence Mikan — George Mikan George Lawrence Mikan, né le 18 juin 1924 à Joliet en Illinois décédé le 1er juin 2005 à Scottsdale, Arizona, était un joueur de basket ball américain. Sommaire 1 Biographie 2 Palmarès …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Mikan, George — ▪ American athlete in full  George Lawrence Mikan   born June 18, 1924, Joliet, Ill., U.S. died June 1, 2005, Scottsdale, Ariz.  American professional basketball player and executive who was selected in an Associated Press poll in 1950 as the… …   Universalium

  • George Mikan — in 1944, wearing his number 99 jersey No. 99 Center Personal information Date of birth June 18, 1924 …   Wikipedia

  • Lawrence — Lawrence, David Herbert Lawrence, Ernest Orlando Lawrence, Thomas Edward ► C. del NE de E.U.A., en el estado de Massachusetts; 66 915 h (área metropolitana Lawrence Haverhill, 200 280 h). * * * (as used in expressions) Lawrence Cecil Adler Alma… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • George — George, David Lloyd George, Henry George, Pierre George, Stefan * * * (as used in expressions) Aberdeen, George Hamilton Gordon, 4 conde de George William Russell Akerlof, George A. Alexander, Harold (Rupert Leofric George) Alexander, 1 conde… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • George Mikan — Datos personales …   Wikipedia Español

  • Lawrence — /lawr euhns, lor /, n. 1. D(avid) H(erbert), 1885 1930, English novelist. 2. Ernest O(rlando), 1901 58, U.S. physicist: inventor of the cyclotron; Nobel prize 1939. 3. Gertrude, 1901? 52, English actress. 4. Jacob, born 1917, U.S. painter and… …   Universalium

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