GEORGEMIKAN
LOS ANGELES LAKERSGeorge Mikan — 5× champion, 3× scoring champion, the first dominant big man in basketball history. Career stats, bio and legacy of "Mr. Basketball," who forced the sport to change its rules.
5×NBA CHAMPION
4×ALL-STAR
George Mikan biography — NBA career story, legacy, championships, awards and personal background.
Career timeline, milestones, and place among all-time greats.
Before the NBA even had a rulebook built around big men, George Mikan forced the league to write one — goaltending was banned and the lane widened largely because of him. Born June 18, 1924, in Joliet, Illinois. Died June 1, 2005, in Scottsdale, Arizona, at age 80. Height 6 ft 10 in (208 cm).
A three-time consensus All-American at DePaul (1942–1946), where coach Ray Meyer transformed him from an awkward athlete into a dominant hook-shooter, he turned pro with the Chicago American Gears in the NBL before joining the Minneapolis Lakers in 1947, where he played the rest of his career across the NBL, BAA, and NBA.
Nicknamed "Mr. Basketball," Mikan won five NBA/BAA championships with the Lakers (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954) plus two earlier NBL titles. He led the league in scoring three consecutive seasons (1949–1951) and won the inaugural NBA MVP-style recognition of his era. A four-time NBA All-Star, in 1950 an Associated Press poll named him the greatest basketball player of the first half of the 20th century.
Combined NBL/BAA/NBA career totals: 11,764 points (22.6 ppg), 4,167 rebounds (13.4 rpg, tracked over his last five seasons), 1,245 assists (2.8 apg) over 520 games.
His No. 99 was retired by the Lakers. Named to the NBA's 25th, 35th, 50th, and 75th Anniversary Teams. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959.
George Mikan quick facts — Height 6'10. 23.1 PPG career average. Championship years: 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954.
Height, weight, draft year, and years in the league.
George Mikan awards and honors — Championship years: 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954.
Major individual and team accolades with seasons won.
5x4x
3x
George Mikan career statistics summary — 23.1 PPG career average.
Regular-season averages and totals across the full NBA career.
George Mikan career highs — best single-game performances in points, rebounds, assists and more.
Personal records with dates and opponents.
vs MNL
vs PHW
vs FTW
vs MNL
George Mikan advanced stats — PER, win shares, BPM and overall impact metrics.
Impact measured beyond traditional box score statistics.
George Mikan playoff stats — postseason points, rebounds, assists and games played.
Postseason production across every playoff run.
George Mikan All-Star Game stats — appearances, minutes and showcase performance.
Mid-season exhibition stats across every All-Star selection.
→DID NOT PLAY - RETIRED→George Mikan NBA transactions — trades, signings and team changes by date.
Team moves and dates across every NBA stop.
FAQ about George Mikan — rings, MVP awards, career stats, height.
Answers to the most searched questions about championships and career honors.
George Mikan averaged 23.1 points, 13.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists per game in the regular season.
Players similar to George Mikan — statistical peers by position, peak seasons and career arc.
All-time comparisons with the closest playing profile.
NoteThe club shown in the profile isn't necessarily the player's last team, but the one he's most associated with and that defined his career. See the full team history in the Transactions section.