DePaul University Athletics
George Mikan Passes Away
6/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Statement From Ray Meyer: “As far as I am concerned, George Mikan was the greatest competitor I ever coached. He came the farthest of any player I’ve ever seen, being an awkward young man into the polished player that was the greatest player of the first half of the 20th century. He got better every time he played and I was a great coach when he was on the floor. I will miss him greatly.”
Mikan played for DePaul from 1942-46 and changed the game of basketball forever.
Credited with helping put the NBA on the map as a major league sport, Mikan was also responsible for sell-out crowds at the Chicago Stadium and
At DePaul, Mikan stills hold the school record for points in a game with 53 against
In his stellar NBA career, Mikan led the Lakers to five NBA crowns in his nine seasons. He scored 11,764 points - a 22.6 per game career scoring average and led the league in scoring three times. In 1996, Mikan was honored as one of the top 50 players in NBA history.
One of only two DePaul players to have his number retired (#99), Mikan was elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1959. He is also a member of the NIT Hall of Fame and was named to the all-time NIT team. After his playing career, Mikan was a NBA coach and also served as the first commissioner of the American Basketball Association (ABA).
