Dunking With Wolves
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Bandwagoner’s Guide to the Minnesota Timberwolves: The Minneapolis Lakers

By Henry Zimmerman

MINNEAPOLIS - 1953: The World Champions of basketball Minneapolis Lakers pose for a team portrait (L-R): Head Coach John Kundla, Slater Martin, Frank Saul, Jim Holstein, Vern Mikkelsen, Lew Hitch, George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Bob Harrison, Whitey Skoog, Assisstant coach Dave McMillan. in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1953. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright NBAE 2002 (Photo by NBAP/ NBAE/ Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS - 1953: The World Champions of basketball Minneapolis Lakers pose for a team portrait (L-R): Head Coach John Kundla, Slater Martin, Frank Saul, Jim Holstein, Vern Mikkelsen, Lew Hitch, George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Bob Harrison, Whitey Skoog, Assisstant coach Dave McMillan. in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1953. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright NBAE 2002 (Photo by NBAP/ NBAE/ Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS – 1953: The World Champions of basketball Minneapolis Lakers pose for a team portrait (L-R): Head Coach John Kundla, Slater Martin, Frank Saul, Jim Holstein, Vern Mikkelsen, Lew Hitch, George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Bob Harrison, Whitey Skoog, Assisstant coach Dave McMillan. in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1953. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright NBAE 2002 (Photo by NBAP/ NBAE/ Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS – 1953: The World Champions of basketball Minneapolis Lakers pose for a team portrait (L-R): Head Coach John Kundla, Slater Martin, Frank Saul, Jim Holstein, Vern Mikkelsen, Lew Hitch, George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Bob Harrison, Whitey Skoog, Assisstant coach Dave McMillan. in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1953. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright NBAE 2002 (Photo by NBAP/ NBAE/ Getty Images) /

The Minneapolis Lakers (1947-48 & 1948-1959)

Before the days of purple and gold, the Los Angeles Lakers actually played in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, hence the name Lakers.

The team started playing in the National Basketball League in 1947 when the then-defunct Detroit Gems was purchased by Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen. According to the Official NBA Encyclopedia, the team that was purchased didn’t consist of any players, because they had all been reassigned to other NBL teams. So the team had to rebuild from scratch.

Fortunately for Berger and Chalfen, the Gems were the worst team in the NBL, which allowed the newly formed Lakers to pick first in the 1947 draft, a draft which honestly deserves its own article. Either way, they ended up nailing that pick.

(Original Caption) Minneapolis Lakers basketball player George Mikan is shown in this photograph.
(Original Caption) Minneapolis Lakers basketball player George Mikan is shown in this photograph. /

The pick became the team’s star player and focal point. George Mikan, aka Mr. Basketball, was selected from the Professional Basketball League of America dispersal draft. His length and size allowed him to stand above (pun intended) his peers in the draft, making it easy for the Lakers to select him first overall.

Coming over from fellow NBL team, the Chicago American Gears, he joined the Lakers and became their biggest star. Easily the greatest player to ever wear the number 99, Mikan was the ultimate center. He was 6-foot-10 and averaged 23.1 points per game and 13.4 rebounds per game. A dominant force on the inside, Mikan won several scoring titles in the NBA, posting numbers like the 28.1 points per game figure from the 1950-1951 season.

Beyond the numbers, George Mikan literally changed the way the game was being played. A number of rule changes occurred simply because of Mikan’s dominance. Most notably, the “Mikan Rule” involved the widening of the foul lane. He is also responsible for the introduction of the shot clock, and the introduction of the goaltending rule.

UNITED STATES – CIRCA 2000: George Mikan of the Minneapolis Lakers during warmup at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Evelyn Straus/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES – CIRCA 2000: George Mikan of the Minneapolis Lakers during warmup at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Evelyn Straus/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) /

Over the course of his career, George Mikan acquired loads of accolades. He won seven championships, across the NBL, BAA, and NBA. He also played in the first four NBA All-Star games. Additionally, he made each of the first six All-BAA and All-NBA Teams.

Unfortunately for Mikan and for the Minneapolis Lakers, he fractured his leg in during the 1952-1953 season. His leadership still proved valuable to the team, however, as they would go on to win another NBA title that season.

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