Isaac
Years ago
NBA Great George Mikan, 1924-2005
Mikan, who had been suffering from diabetes and kidney failure, died on Wednesday night.Mikan was recognised as the game's best player for the first half of the 20th century, playing for the Minneapolis Lakers and winning six championships in seven years. He won six straight scoring titles and was admitted into the Hall of Fame in 1959.
He had battled several complications from his illnesses. Mikan's right leg was amputated several years ago, and he recently was hospitalized for more than a month for treatment of a diabetes wound in his left leg. Mikan also spent 35 hours a week on a dialysis machine.
Mikan's use of his broad shoulders and sharp elbows caused the NBA to widen the foul lane from six feet to 12 feet to move him away from the basket and implement the 24-second shot clock so teams would not freeze the ball against Mikan and the Lakers.You can read more about George Mikan at the NBA History site.
He was so dominant at DePaul that he forced university basketball officials to adopt the goaltending rule.
