George Lawrence Mikan Jr. (June 18, 1924 – June 1, 2005), known as "Mr. Basketball," was the NBA's first dominant big man and a pioneering figure in professional basketball. Standing 6'10" and weighing 245 pounds, Mikan revolutionized the center position with his size, skill, and ambidextrous hook shot. Born in Joliet, Illinois, he played college basketball at DePaul University, leading them to the 1945 NIT title. Mikan then joined the Minneapolis Lakers, where he won seven championships (one in the NBL, one in the BAA, and five in the NBA) between 1948 and 1954. He was a five-time scoring champion, averaging 23.1 points per game over his career, and his dominance led to rule changes like the introduction of the shot clock and the widening of the lane. After retiring in 1956, Mikan briefly coached the Lakers, later served as ABA commissioner, and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959.