George Lawrence Mikan.

George Lawrence Mikan. George Lawrence Mikan (1924-2005), American basketball player. One of the first dominant "big men" in the sport, Mikan was credited with revolutionizing the game with his size and agility. In recognition of his influence, the Associated Press voted him the outstanding basketball player of the first half of the 20th century. George Lawrence Mikan, Jr., was born in Joliet, Illinois. Awkward as a teenager and hindered by a badly broken leg and poor eyesight--he would wear eyeglasses throughout his college and professional career--Mikan never played basketball in high school. In 1942 he enrolled at DePaul University in Chicago and began working on his skills with the school's new basketball coach, Ray Meyer. With Meyer's help Mikan developed a polished inside game, taking advantage of his 6-ft 10-in (203-cm) frame. He was considered huge during his era and was able to block shots and score easily over shorter opponents. Partly in response to Mikan's height and defensive skills, in 1944 the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) banned goaltending (interfering with the ball on the rim or while it is descending toward the basket). Mikan was a three-time All-America selection (1944-1946) at DePaul. He led the team to national prominence and helped DePaul win the 1945 National Invitational Tournament (NIT) title, at the time the most prestigious competition in the college game. Mikan scored 53 points in the NIT semifinals, a collegiate record at the time, and was named the tournament's most valuable player (MVP). Mikan began his professional career with the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League (NBL). Although the Gears won the league championship in his first season (1946-47), the franchise folded the following year, and Mikan signed with the Minneapolis Lakers (later named the Los Angeles Lakers). He led the Lakers to the NBL title in 1948, after which Minneapolis joined the fledgling National Basketball Association (NBA). Mikan and the Lakers became the premier franchise of the NBA's early years, winning five NBA championships (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954). Mikan retired as a player after the 1955-56 season. He coached the Lakers for part of the following season. During his NBA career, Mikan scored 11,764 points (a record when he retired) and led the league in scoring three times (1949-1951). In 1959 he was one of the first players selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Mikan later became a lawyer. From 1967 to 1969 he served as commissioner of the newly formed American Basketball Association (ABA). In 1996 the NBA named Mikan to its list of the 50 greatest players in league history. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.