10 Greatest Nicknames in Lakers History

George Mikan#3 – Mr. Basketball It was December 14, 1949 and the Lakers team bus had just arrived in New York City for a showdown with the Knickerbockers.  Team captain George Mikan and his Laker teammates couldn’t help but notice the message displayed outside of Madison Square Garden. The marquee on one of the most famous arenas on the planet simply read: “George Mikan vs. the Knicks”. I guess that’s why they called him Mr. Basketball.

Kobe Quiz Pau Quiz | Lamar Quiz | Fish Quiz Ultimate Fan Quiz

Before the multi-million dollar contracts. Before Wilt, Russell or Kareem. Before the advent of the shot clock. Before all the national TV contracts. Before pretty much everything, there was George Mikan: the NBA’s first superstar. He stood tall at 6-10 and dominated the league with an unmatched blend of size, speed and strength. Teams would send two, three and sometimes four men at big George, but still they couldn’t stop him. After leading the Lakers to 5 Championships in 7 years, Mikan’s dominance forced the league to reevaluate some of their rules to even out the playing field. His play directly resulted in widening the lane from 6 feet to 12 feet and outlawing defensive rebounding. I’ll say it again, I guess that’s why they called him Mr. Basketball.

Next: You have a Clue who is Number 2?

You May Also Like

5 Reasons the Heat are Cooked

5. Experience Aside from Eddie House, who did win a title with…

Lakers News: D’Angelo Russell & Austin Reaves Have Very Close Relationship On & Off Court

With the Los Angeles Lakers returning to their original starting lineup that includes a backcourt of D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves…

Lakers Draft Rumors: L.A. ‘Impressed’ With Jamal Murray Interview

In the event the Los Angeles Lakers wind up with one of the first two picks in the 2016 NBA Draft, it is pretty clear that the team would take one of two players…

Lakers News: Rob Pelinka Stresses Collaborative Effort In Offseason Moves

With the season now over, the focus for the Los Angeles Lakers now turns to the offseason and getting prepared…