GEORGE MIKAN
Although every statue currently, and planned to be outside Staples Center is of a Laker based in Los Angeles, George Mikan was the franchises’ original star. Mikan led the Minneapolis Lakers to five championships and developed the first dynasty the league had ever seen.
Before there was Shaq, before there was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, there was George Mikan. Mikan paved the way for every future star that would shine in the NBA.
Mikan played only seven years of basketball, and he averaged 23.1 points per game. Mikan grabbed thousands of rebounds and blocked a countless number of shots; however, those stats were not recorded during his era.
George Mikan was a both dominant and iconic player for the Lakers and the NBA. Mikan is not remembered by the average person, but his affect on Lakers’ history is something that cannot be described. He paved the way for every star that would wear “Lakers” across their chest.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xEoCsDKXPo
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