George Mikan was a professional NBA basketball player and a coach. George Mikan played center for the Chicago American Gears and the Minneapolis Lakers. In addition to being a basketball player, he was also an NBA coach.
Mikan coached the Minneapolis Lakers, who are now known as the Los Angeles Lakers, in the NBA from 1957 to 1958. Aside from that, the renowned athlete was instrumental in the implementation of numerous NBA rules.
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Education, Family, and Childhood
George Mikan was born on June 18, 1924, in the city of Joliet in the state of Illinois. Joseph Mikan and Minnie Mikan are his parents.
In addition, his father is Croatian and his mother is a Lithuanian. Apart from that, his grandpa Juraj immigrated to Braddock, Pennsylvania, from Croatia.
Juraj married Marija, the grandmother of the former NBA star, in Pennsylvania. In 1907, they welcomed Joesph together.
Along with that, the pair founded Mikan’s Tavern, a restaurant. Joesph and Minnie took over the tavern after Juraj and Marija.
The former coach led quite an ordinary life. He also had two brothers, Joe and Edward, as well as a sister named Marie. Edward, his brother, is also a former NBA player.
They were all physically active and participated in a variety of sports activities. Aside from that, they volunteered at the restaurant whenever they were able.
He played high school basketball at Joliet Catholic Academy, where he was a five-time NBA champion. His high school coach and peers, on the other hand, actively discouraged him from playing basketball.
The coaches deemed him unable to play because he had Myopia and was fairly slender.
Nonetheless, he did not let their criticisms limit his potential, and he continued on.
In addition, with his thick, nearsightedness spectacles, he dominated basketball games.
He did, however, break his knees at one point and spent nearly a year in bed.
He considered becoming a priest in 1938 and enrolled at Chicago Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary. Despite this, he returned to school and finished his degree.
He attended DePaul University after high school graduation, where he played NCAA basketball for the DePaul Blue Demons.
Salary And Net Worth
Many sources predict that George Mikan’s net worth is between $6 million and $15 million.
However, given the player’s financial struggles following his basketball career, the sum seems a little ridiculous.
Furthermore, when it came time to pay his medical costs, he ran into a number of financial issues.
Nonetheless, there are speculations that he had made investments in stocks that had appreciated in value over time.
Facts of George Mikan
| Full Name | George Lawrence Mikan Jr. |
| Birth Date | June 18, 1924 |
| Birth Place | Joliet, Illinois, the United States |
| Death | June 1, 2005 |
| Religion | Christian |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Education | DePaul University |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Father’s Name | Joseph Mikan |
| Mother’s Name | Minnie Mikan |
| Siblings | Three; Joe, Edward, and Marie Mikan |
| Age (At The Time Of Death) | 80 |
| Height | 6 feet 10 inches |
| Weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Build | Athletic |
| Profession | NBA Player, NBA Coach |
| Last Team | Minneapolis Lakers |
| Position | Centre |
| Active Years | 1946 – 1958 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Patricia Lu Deveny |
| Kids | Six: Larry, Terry, Patrick, Michael, Trisha, and Maureen |
| Net Worth | $6.52 million |
| Nickname | Mr. Basketball |
| Merch | Basketball Card, Poster |
| Last Update | 2022 |
Basketball College Career
Ray Myers, DePaul’s basketball coach, was very interested in the tall and clumsy high school basketball player at the time. He also thought George had a lot of talent and advised he play for the DePaul Blue Demons.
Mikan accepted Myers’s offer. Furthermore, the coach altered the perception of basketball’s tall players.
Basketball leagues did not consider tall athletes to be good basketball players in the past. Recruiters and coaches thought they were too inconvenient and awkward to play successfully.
However, when Myers transformed George into a confident and aggressive player in a short period of time, he altered a lot of people’s minds.
He even advised the NBA player on how to make the most of his towering stature.
They also worked out every day, with Mikan punching speed bags, taking dance lessons, and jumping ropes. He was also a master at hook shots with both hands.
Myers assisted in the transformation of an insecure high schooler who was self-conscious about his height into a confident young man.
After that, the former center began to dominate NCAA games.
Aside from that, his aggressive approach, height, and physique terrified his opponents. In college basketball, the former MVP became a household name.
As a result, he earned a reputation as one of the toughest players in the collegiate basketball league. For his amazing games, he also received various accolades and honors.
The former Lakers player won the Helms NCAA College Player of the Year award in 1944 and 1945. He was also a three-time All-American and the NIT’s Most Valuable Player in 1945.
Careers in the BAA, NBL, and NBA
American Gears of Chicago
The news of the player’s flawless collegiate career began to circulate. He drew the notice of the Chicago American Gears shortly after.
In 1946, he was signed by the Gears of the National Basketball League. George also aided the National Basketball League squad in winning the World Basketball Tournament.
As a result, he was named MVP and a member of the All-NBL Team. The following season, American Gears’ then-president withdrew the team out of the NBL to form his own league.
In less than a month, his league collapsed, and the Gears’ players were evenly split among the other 11 NBL teams. As a result, Mikan was traded to the Minneapolis Lakers.
The Lakers of Minneapolis
Mr. Basketball helped the Lakers win the 1947 National Basketball League championship in his debut season with the team. He was named the league’s Most Valuable Player as a result.
He guided the Minneapolis club to a second consecutive NBL championship the following year. Following that, he assisted them in winning the 1949 BAA championship against the Washington Capitols.
In 1950, he led the Lakers to their first-ever NBA championship title after the NBA was founded by uniting the NBL and the BAA.
Despite being unbeatable at first, the Lakers lost the NBA championship in 1951.
Nonetheless, when Mikan returned for the 1952 NBA season, he was more powerful than ever. From then until 1954, he led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships.
Along the way, he contributed to the development of crucial NBA regulations like goaltending, shot clock, and the Mikan Rule.
Following that, George was forced to miss the entire 1955 NBA season due to injury.
He also failed to make a better return in 1956, failing to make it to the NBA finals. The center eventually left the game of basketball as a player.
After Basketball And Coaching
Mikan ran for the Republican Party in Minnesota’s 3rd congressional district after his basketball career ended. He ran against Republican Representative Roy Weir in 1956.
Despite this, he was unable to secure victory, receiving only 48 percent of the vote. In addition, the NBA legend experienced a financial crisis when he was unable to find work.
The former NBA player tried his hand as a coach with the Minnesota Lakers. He did, however, lead the team to one of their worst seasons ever.
He returned to basketball as the first commissioner of the American Basketball League after that. The ABA was the NBA’s rival league. Despite this, it only survived until 1969.
In the mid-1980s, he was involved in the formation of the Minnesota Timberwolves, a new basketball franchise.
Furthermore, when the Minneapolis Lakers relocated to Los Angeles, George oversaw the task force that formed the team.
Mr. Basketball also became a part-owner of the Chicago Cheetahs, a professional roller hockey team.
After their second season, however, the franchise flopped horribly.
Defending the NBA in Court
In his later years, the legendary basketballer battled chronic diabetes.
In addition, the condition resulted in kidney failure. He had to have his right leg amputated below the knee as well.
He was in serious financial trouble after his medical insurance stopped paying his costs.
Following that, he engaged in a protracted legal dispute with the NBA and the NBA Players’ Union.
Personal Life and Marriage
Patricia Mikan was George Mikan’s wife. Furthermore, the couple had been married for 58 years before passing away.
Patricia passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2014. She was also Mikan’s loving and supporting wife.
Larry, Terry, Patrick, Michael, Trisha, and Maureen were their six children.
Aside from that, they have a total of twelve grandkids.
The NBA player’s wife was a nurturing and loving mother. Her children and backs were always on her mind.
In addition, she supported her husband during his diabetes battle.
Height, and Weight
George Mikan was 6 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 245 pounds or 111 kg.
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Death
In 2005, one of the best NBA players died in a Scottsdale, Arizona rehabilitation center.
His death was confirmed by his family not long after.
He died as a result of complications from his chronic diabetes.
Furthermore, since 2000, George has been undergoing dialysis three times a week for four hours each time.
