George Mikan

George Lawrence Mikan, Jr. (June 18, 1924 - June 1, 2005), nicknamed Mr. Basketball, was a player for the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League (NBL) and Minneapolis Lakers of the NBL, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). Invariably playing with thick, round glasses, the '6 10 in the 245 pounds Mikan was considered one of the pioneers of professional basketball, redefining it as a set of so-called great men with his prolific rebounding, shot blocking and talent to take smaller defenders with his ambidextrous hook shot, result of his own “Mikan Drill”.

George Mikan in his early playing career

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Mikan had a successful player career, winning seven NBL, BAA and NBA championships, an All-Star MVP trophy, three scoring titles and being a member of the first four NBA All-Star teams and the first six All BAA and Ideal the NBA. Mikan was so dominant that it has caused several changes in the rules of the NBA, including the expansion of the track known as the failure "Mikan Rule" and the introduction of the chronometer.

Mikan statue with the man himself in the Target Center

After his playing career, Mikan became one of the founders of the American Basketball Association (ABA), which serves as commissioner of this league, and was also essential for the formation of the Minnesota Timberwolves. In his later years, Mikan was involved in a long legal battle against the NBA, is fighting to increase the meager pensions for players who retired before the league became lucrative. In 2005, Mikan died after a long battle with diabetes.

Top Laker centers with Shaq and Kareem

For his feats, Mikan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959, NBA and the 35th anniversary of 1970 and 1980 and was elected one of the 50 best players in the NBA in 1996. Since April 2001, a statue of Mikan shooting his trademark hook shot by the entrance to Target Center Timberwolves .

pictures via NBA and ESPN