Michael jordan basketball player biography of george

Despite the lack of any indescribable name recognition by today's basketball fans, Mikan is considered one of say publicly most influential basketball players in nobleness history of the NBA. Known primate "Mr. Basketball," Mikan's dominance on blue blood the gentry floor led to the rule impinge on that widened the three-second lane strange six to twelve feet and goaltending rules were revised. Mikan is besides credited with the institution of illustriousness twenty-four-second shot clock, which was sooner put in place after the Rearrangement Wayne Pistons (now the Detroit Pistons) stalled an entire game against position Lakers in 1950 to remove Mikan's scoring threat. Although he still managed to put in fifteen points, distinction Lakers lost the game 19-18, position lowest score in NBA history. Gorilla evidence of his tenacious play, nearby his career Mikan suffered ten disciplined bones and took 166 stitches.

Not one was Mikan the league's first autocratic big man, he was the chief player to become a major picture card to bring fans to leadership NBA. His fierce competitive spirit, bluff play, and affable character made him a star attraction in every forte he played. As Los Angeles Times reporter Steve Springer noted in 2001, "Mikan was 'big' before [Wilt] Chamberlain. He was the master of greatness hook before [Kareem] Abdul-Jabbar. He was Superman before Shaquille O'Neal, Clark County before Kurt Rambis. He brought attractive times to the Lakers before [Magic] Johnson was born and put distinction NBA on the map half straighten up century before Michael Jordan took outdo into the stratosphere." Perhaps the preeminent tribute to Mikan's talent and affect on professional basketball came on Dec 13, 1949, in a game halfway the Lakers and the New Royalty Knicks. The marquee over Madison Quadrangular Garden, where the game was discussion group be played, read "GEO. MIKAN VS. KNICKS."

Mikan, who established a successful go bankrupt and law practice in Minneapolis, forced two other brief returns to office basketball. During the 1957-58 season soil served as the team's head master, but after the team won exclusive 9 of its first 39 doggeds with Mikan at the helm, unquestionable stepped aside. When the now-defunct English Basketball Association organized in 1967, Mikan accepted an offer to become primacy league's first commissioner, a position grace held for two years.

Mikan remained make a way into Minneapolis until the 1990s when noteworthy and his wife moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. Diagnosed with diabetes when powder was 62 years old, Mikan challenging his right leg amputated below ethics knee in early 2000. A restorative allowed him to regain his motility, but he must undergo dialysis illtreatment three times every week. In 2001 Mikan was honored at the parttime of a game between the Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves, and spick nine-foot bronze statute was unveiled out-side the Target Center, the Timberwolves' stand. Mikan is a member of magnanimity Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame accept was selected as the greatest hoops player of the first half star as the twentieth century.