Even if being decades overdue, the Lakers announced on Wednesday they would be retiring George Mikan’s jersey on October 30 against the Denver Nuggets. Mikan led the franchise to five titles in the late 1940s and early 1950s in Minneapolis.
Mikan was one of the first true professional basketball stars in America. His dominance on the court was unparalleled at the time. In seven seasons with the Lakers, In ever sense, Mikan is considered a pioneer of basketball.
Mikan averaged 23.1 points and 13.4 rebounds, though the latter stat wasn’t tracked in his first two seasons.