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MagicMadness
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George Mikan Passes Away; at Age 80
Topic Started: Jun 2 2005, 03:15 PM (274 Views)
NYCMagicFan
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Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - NBA legend and Hall of Famer George Mikan has died. Mikan, the first dominant big man in professional basketball, was 80.

A cause of death was not released, but Mikan, who was living in Arizona, had suffered from diabetes and kidney failure.

Mikan helped the Minneapolis Lakers to five titles and scored 11,764 points in nine years. He was a four-time NBA All-Star and a league scoring champion in each of his first six pro seasons.

Enshrined in the Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1959, the 6-foot-10 Mikan helped the NBA grow in stature during its infancy. The Lakers won five titles in six years during the first decade of the league behind Mikan.

The bespectacled big man was first a dominant figure in college as a three- time All-American for DePaul from 1942-46. The Blue Demons were 87-11 during his four years and he still holds the school record for points in a game with 53 against Rhode Island in the 1945 NIT semifinals.

The NCAA also adopted the goaltending rule while Mikan was in school.

"George Mikan was the greatest competitor I ever coached," said legendary DePaul head coach Ray Meyer in a statement. "He got better every time he played and I was a great coach when he was on the floor."

The Joliet, Illinois native played professionally first with the Chicago Gears of the NBL in 1946-47, then joined the Lakers the next year after the Gears folded. The Lakers won the NBL title in Mikan's MVP season of 1947-48, then joined the BAA -- which would become the NBA a year later -- the following season and started a run of five championships in six years.

Mikan retired in 1954 because of injuries and came back for 37 games during the 1955-56 campaign. His dominance in a relatively short career led to selections for the NBA's 25th and 35th anniversary teams. In 1996, he was honored as one of the top 50 players in NBA history.

Outside the Target Center -- home of the Minnesota Timberwolves -- a statue was erected in honor of Mikan.
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TheGreatOne
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RIP George.


Very sad that he had to sell off his rings and memorabilia to pay for his Kidney dialysis. With all the billions floating around in this league you would think someone would have stepped up and helped
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Drex22
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I know, atleast Shaq said he would pay for the funeral
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TheGreatOne
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Drex22
Jun 3 2005 08:03 AM
I know, atleast Shaq said he would pay for the funeral

Shaq made an offer that can help his family. He didn't have to do it. Shaq has made a lot of mistakes, but this was a good move. I remember when he visited the Philippines in 1996, for an exhibition game. He was so upset about the plight of the homeless street children that he went to a local toy shop and bought out the store's inventory for the kids and donated money to have houses built for them. It was not even christmas, he spent a fortune... and he just did it out of generosity.
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True Magic
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RIP George
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magic_rulz36
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good ridance to bad rubbish
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True Magic
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That's pretty mean.
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magic_rulz36
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i am pretty mean, woop woop woop
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True Magic
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You should get banned.
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Drex22
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yeah, do we have a "IGNORE" feature here?
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MagicMadness
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I warned magic_rulz36 about spam via private message, and we came to an understanding. He shouldn't be causing problems around here any longer.

And no, sorry guys but there is not an "Ignore" feature.
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magic_rulz36
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yer i'll be good from now on
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MagicMadness
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All good man, welcome to the boards.
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MAGICMANEVAN
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yeah right. after saying what he said. i dont believe that he will be good. no way. he should be banned.

or someone can make an ignore button. :yes:
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