George Mikan was an American professional basketball player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He was a dominant center in the National Basketball Association (NBA) during the 1940s and 1950s, and was the first player to be named an All-Star in the NBA.

Mikan was born in Joliet, Illinois in 1924 and attended DePaul University, where he was a two-time All-American. He was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1947 and quickly became one of the most dominant players in the league. He was a six-time All-Star and led the Lakers to five NBA championships.

Mikan was known for his physical style of play, using his size and strength to overpower opponents. He was also an excellent shooter, and was one of the first players to develop a hook shot. He was also an excellent rebounder and defender, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team in 1953.

Mikan was also an innovator off the court, becoming the first player to have his own signature shoe, the Converse All-Star. He was also the first player to have his own trading card, and was the first player to have his own television show.

Mikan retired from the NBA in 1954, but continued to play in exhibition games and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959. He was also named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1996. He passed away in 2005 at the age of 80.

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