Misplaced Pages

#420579

81-571: The 66ers were a perennial power in AAU basketball in the 1940s, and 1950s. The team won 11 national championships at the AAU national tournament between 1940 and 1963, including six consecutive AAU titles , from 1943 to 1948. In 1948, the 66ers combined with Adolph Rupp 's "Fabulous Five" University of Kentucky team to form the U.S. team that won the Olympic basketball tournament . In almost 50 seasons,

162-629: A 97–53 win over Rhode Island . After the end of the 1945–46 college season, Mikan signed with the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League , a predecessor of the modern NBA. He played with the Gears for 25 games at the end of the 1946–47 NBL season, scoring 16.5 points per game as a rookie. Mikan led the Gears to a third-place finish at the 1946 World Professional Basketball Tournament , where he

243-526: A basketball team under the Phillips banner. By 1920, this team commenced playing matches against other corporate teams, gradually gaining recognition. In 1921, seeking avenues to maintain fitness during the winter, a contingent of Phillips employees organized a team within the Bartlesville YMCA basketball league. Initially, their matches were confined to Bartlesville and nearby areas, maintaining

324-596: A career. He was inducted into the inaugural Basketball Hall of Fame class of 1959 and was declared the greatest player of the first half of the century by The Associated Press . Source In 1956 , Mikan was the Republican candidate for the United States Congress in Minnesota's 3rd congressional district . He challenged incumbent Representative Roy Wier in a closely fought race that featured

405-505: A game dominated in his day by " big men ". His prolific rebounding , shot blocking , and ability to shoot over smaller defenders with his ambidextrous hook shot all helped to change the game. He also utilized the underhanded free-throw shooting technique long before Rick Barry made it his signature shot. Mikan had a highly successful playing career, winning seven NBL, BAA, and NBA championships in nine seasons, an NBA All-Star Game MVP trophy, and three scoring titles . He played in

486-564: A high voter turnout. Despite the reelection of incumbent Republican President Dwight Eisenhower , the inexperienced Mikan lost by a close margin of 52% to 48%. Wier received 127,356 votes to Mikan's 117,716. Returning to the legal profession, Mikan was frustrated after hoping for an influx of work. For six months, Mikan did not get any assignments at all, leaving him in financial difficulties that forced him to cash in on his life insurance. Problems also arose in Mikan's professional sports career. In

567-622: A modest profile. However, as time progressed, a spirited rivalry emerged with Empire Oil & Gas. The 66ers joined the Amateur Athletic Union, which featured the best basketball players at that time; in 1921. In the 1920s, the standout player for the team was Paul Endacott, a former college star at Kansas who earned recognition as the Amateur Athletic Union Player of the Year in 1923, a time when there

648-526: A month, and the players of White's teams were equally distributed among the 11 remaining NBL franchises . Mikan became a member of the Minneapolis Lakers , playing for coach John Kundla . In his first season with the Lakers, Mikan led the league in scoring with 1,195 points, becoming the only NBL player to score more than 1,000 points in an NBL season. Following the regular season, he was named

729-474: A new collective bargaining agreement would finally vindicate his generation. In 2005, however, his condition worsened. Mikan died in Scottsdale, Arizona , on June 1, 2005, of complications from diabetes and other ailments. His son Terry reported that his father had undergone dialysis three times a week for four hours at a time during the last five years of his life. Mikan's death was widely mourned by

810-508: A shot, I'd just go up and tap it out." As a consequence, the NCAA (and later the NBA) outlawed touching a ball either after it had reached its apex in flight or after it had touched the backboard and had a chance of going in the hoop. Bob Kurland , a 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) tall center for Oklahoma A&M , was one of the few opposing NCAA centers to have any success against Mikan. Mikan

891-458: A stunning 62–3 record in 1947–48 and won their AAU 5th title in a row. Phillips also dominated the 1948 Olympic trials, beating NCAA champion Kentucky Wildcats , 53–49, in the finals. That put five 66ers Bob Kurland , Cab Renick , Lew Beck , Gordon Carpenter and R.C. Pitts on the Olympic team, and made Phillips coach Bud Browning the head coach over Kentucky's Adolph Rupp . Ironically, it

SECTION 10

#1732790775421

972-462: A team to play out the schedule. The 66ers lost their last game ever, 57–52, to the Spokane (Washington) Vaughan Realtors in the quarterfinals of the AAU national tournament. The 66ers fulfilled their other goal: making the Phillips' name and their northeastern Oklahoma town known all over the country. The Oilers placed a record of 39 players in the AAU's All-America teams and 21 became members of

1053-462: A testament to his fierce playing style, he also led the league three times in personal fouls. Mikan retired as the NBA's all-time leading scorer. He won seven NBL, BAA, and NBA championships, an All-Star MVP trophy, and three scoring titles, and was a member of the first four NBA All-Star games and the first six All-BAA and All-NBA Teams . As well as being declared the greatest player of the first half of

1134-467: A truly dominating game that season. On January 20, 1952, he scored a personal-best 61 points in a 91-81 double-overtime victory against the Rochester Royals. At the time, it was the second-best scoring performance in league history behind Joe Fulks ' 63-point game in 1949. Mikan's output more than doubled that of his teammates, who combined for 30 points. He also grabbed 36 rebounds, a record at

1215-583: A year to operate, not including players' salaries. Very little of that was recouped by ticket sales. The highest tickets were $ 2, but most of the tickets were $ 1 or 50 cents. The final blow fell in 1967: The ABA was founded. The ABA was on firmer financial footing than the old ABL , and it needed bodies to compete with the established NBA. Seven 66ers jumped to the new league, most notably Darel Carrier and John Beasley , both of whom had excellent ABA careers. The 66ers already had an AAU schedule for 1967–68, so enough players were called out of retirement to form

1296-426: Is the annual American amateur basketball championship series for Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) teams. It started in 1897 and has continued until present. Most finals have been played in a single final format, apart from some occasions that the winner's tournament had been decided by a round robin format. Later, professional players like David Robinson , Larry Brown , and Gregg Popovich were crowned champions of

1377-438: The 1955 NBA Finals . In the middle of the 1955–56 NBA season , Mikan returned to the Lakers lineup. He played in 37 games, but his long absence had affected his play. He averaged only 10.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists, and the Lakers lost in the first round of the playoffs . At the end of the season, Mikan retired for good. His 10,156 points were a record at the time; he was the first NBA player to score 10,000 points in

1458-636: The 1957–58 NBA season , Lakers coach John Kundla became general manager and persuaded Mikan to become coach of the Lakers. However, this was a failure, as the Lakers endured a 9–30 record until Mikan stepped down and returned coaching duties to Kundla. In one of the worst seasons in the team's history, the Lakers finished the season with a 19–53 record. After this failure, Mikan successfully specialized in corporate and real estate law . He also purchased and renovated buildings in Minneapolis . In 1967, Mikan returned to professional basketball by becoming

1539-694: The 1989–90 NBA season . In 1994, Mikan became the part-owner and chairman of the board of the Chicago Cheetahs , a professional roller hockey team based in Chicago that played in Roller Hockey International . The franchise folded after its second season. In 1947, Mikan married his wife, Patricia, and they remained together for 58 years until his death. The Mikans had six children: Sons Larry , Terry, Patrick and Michael and daughters Trisha and Maureen. All his life, Mikan

1620-596: The Mikan Drill , which has become a staple exercise of "big men" in basketball. Mikan was a harbinger of the NBA's future, which would be dominated by tall, powerful players. When superstar center Shaquille O'Neal became a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, Mikan appeared on a Sports Illustrated cover in November 1996 with O'Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar . The article called Abdul-Jabbar and Mikan

1701-403: The Mikan Drill . In addition, Meyer made Mikan punch a speed bag , take dancing lessons, and jump rope to make him a complete athlete. Mikan dominated his peers from the start of his National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) career at DePaul. He intimidated opponents with his size and strength and was unstoppable on offense with his hook shot. Mikan established a reputation as one of

SECTION 20

#1732790775421

1782-734: The National Industrial Basketball League , which began play in the 1947–48 season, two years before the establishment of the NBA. The NIBL had as many as eleven teams for the 1951–52 season and had nine teams during its next to last season in 1959–60. The Phillips 66ers won the NIBL title 11 of the league’s 14 years of existence. But the goal for all these teams was winning the National AAU Tournament, held each year in Denver. The tournament field

1863-21538: The New York Wanderers ) A.J. Abadie, A.C. Abadie, A. Shields, W. Reed, J. Hamill, Deitrich, Meyerhoff, J. Wendelken, G. Greif. 1899 , Brooklyn, NYC: Knickerbocker A.C. New York Weiss, Stripple, Cornish, Keawn, Dietrich, Reuss. 1900 , Madison Square Garden , New York City: Knickerbocker A.C. New York Quigg, Stripple, Brocker, Keawn, Linder, Reuss, Grennhall, Patterson. 1901: at Chicago 1901 , at Chicago, Illinois: Ravenswood Y.M.C.A. Chicago, Illinois Lorentzen, Rechard, Washburne, Albertson, Rowley, Stevens, Krafthefer. 1904 : Francis Field , St. Louis, Missouri: Buffalo (Germans) Y.M.C.A. Buffalo, New York - at St. Louis, Missouri Rhode, Manweiler, Monohan, Hardt, Miller, Redlein. 1910-1914: at Chicago 1910 , Chicago, Illinois: Company F. Portage, Wisconsin, N.F. Sheppard, Mueller, Ebert, Janda, Hinickle, S. Ernsperger, Swenholt, Harbor, Abell, F. Ernsperger, Schneider. 1913 , Chicago, Illinois: Cornell (Armour Playground), Chicago, Illinois A. Pressler, W. Pressler, Feeney, Johnson, Freeling, Kohfeldt. 1914 , Chicago, Illinois: Cornell (Armour Playground), Chicago, Illinois 1915: at San Francisco 1915 , San Francisco, California: Olympic Club of San Francisco, San Francisco, California Berndt, J. Gilbert, R Gilbert, Stadfeldt, Schugert, Miller, Kemp. 1916 and 1917: at Chicago 1916 , Chicago, Illinois: University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah Dorton, Warner, Thorum, Smith, Breiben, Romney, Van Pelt, Clark, Parker, Goodrich. 1917 , Chicago, Illinois: Illinois A.C. Chicago, Illinois Kohfeldt, Elliot, D. Holland, Greisel, Cochrane, Feeney, A. Pressler (Capt), Frieling, W. Pressler, Egan. 1919: at Los Angeles 1919 , Los Angeles, California: Los Angeles A.C. Los Angeles, California Swann, Wilson, Laswell, Cooper, Slaighter (Capt.), Cate, Tate, Olney. 1920: at Atlanta 1920 , Atlanta, Georgia: New York University Holman, Goeller, Delaney, Cann, Storey (Capt.), Mooney, Baker. 1921 , Convention Hall , Kansas City: Kansas City, A.C. Burrien, Saunders, Lonborg, Moberley, Singer, Davis, De Bernardi. 1922 , Convention Hall , Kansas City: Lowe and Campbell, Kansas City Browning, G. Williams, F. Williams, Reeves, Scott, Keyes, Buckner, Davidson. 1923 , Convention Hall , Kansas City: Kansas City, A.C. Williams, Trumbo, Harry Viner, Bobby Sanders, Francis Hess, George Reeves, George Williams, Milton Singer, George Browning. 1924 , Convention Hall , Kansas City: Butler University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana Paul, Blessing, Strole, Conway, Reichel, Griggs, Keach, Jones, Middlesworth (Capt.), Hooker, Nipper, Harber. 1925 , Convention Hall , Kansas City: Washburn College, Topeka, Kansas Brewster, Peterson, Briethaupt (Capt), Lowe, Lonborg, Poart, McLaughlin, Spohn. 1926 , Convention Hall , Kansas City: Hillyard, St, Joseph, Missouri Earl Mueller, R. Hillyard D. Goodson, N Hillyard, C. Allen, George Rody, S. De Bernardi, G. Starbuck, John Wulf, R. Mosley, E. Giltner. 1927 , Convention Hall , Kansas City: Hillyard, St Joseph, Missouri Starbuck, Loveless, Wulf, Allen, De Bernardi, Mitchel, Hewitt. 1928 , Convention Hall , Kansas City: Cook Paint Company, Kansas City Holt, Peterson, Ekstrom, Gordon, Mosley (Capt.), Lecrone, Wingate, DeBernardi. 1929 , Convention Hall , Kansas City: Cook Paint Company, Kansas City De Bernadi, Burke, Hewitt, Peterson, Holt, Harrigan, Hale, Gordon, Lamb. 1930 , Convention Hall , Kansas City: Henry Clothiers, Wichita, Kansas McBurney, Starbock, Gibbons, Hewitt, Miller, Davis, Dundham, Nonken, Burke. 1931 , Convention Hall , Kansas City: Henry Clothiers, Wichita, Kansas Davis, Callahan, Dunham, Scott, Miller, Iba, McBurney, Hoffman, Alexander, Gardner (Capt). 1932 , Convention Hall , Kansas City: Henry Clothiers, Wichita, Kansas Miller, Gibbons, Grove, Pickell, Olmstead, Dunham, Calahan. 1933 , Convention Hall , Kansas City: Diamond DX Oilers, Tulsa, Oklahoma Chuck Hyatt, Futhey, Jerome, C. Larson, Lantrop, Carlton, H. Larson, Mullins, Art Hyatt. 1934 , Convention Hall , Kansas City: Diamond DX Oilers, Tulsa, Oklahoma W. Miller, Willis, Lantrop, Carlton (Capt), Larson, Pickell, Mullins, Hyatt. 1935 , Convention Hall , Kansas City: Southern Kansas Stage Lines Fischer, Browning, Piper, Quinn, Wier, Wallenstrom, Praiswater, Meyers, Light. 1936 , Convention Hall , Kansas City: Globe Refiners, McPherson, Kansas Johnson, Ragland, Frank, Gibbons, Wheatley, Vaughan, Dowd, Fortenbury, Schmidt. 1937 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Denver Safeways, Denver, Colorado - Shelton (Capt). Mansweller, Frank, Young, Gruenig, Colvin, Dowell, McCracken, Bauer, Fee. 1938 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Healey Motors, Kansas City Herman Fischer, Francis Johnson, Bud Beiser, Roy Brown, Fred Pralle, Ray Noble, Dick Staab, Frank Groves, Bob Weir. 1939 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Denver Nuggets, Denver, Colorado Bill Ogle, Pete Lentry, Bob Gruenig, Dick Wells, Ted Connelly, Werner Frank, Ralph Bishop, Jack McCracken, Tex Colvin. 1940 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma 1941 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Twentieth Century Foz, Hollywood, Carlifornia Cloyd, Woodward, Weldie, Johnson, Harris, O'Hara, Knowels, Lubin, McGrath, Mollner, Schiefer. Tucker, Pralle, Ebling, Loackard, Martin Hyatt (Amateur Coach), Lewis, Fortenbury, Trowtwein, Grove, Shields. 1942 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: American Legion, Denver, Colorado Strannigan, Harvey, McCracken, Marsh, Marks, Gray, Unger, Lentz, Bob Gruenig . 1943 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma McNatt, Browning, Freiberger, Pralle, Carpenter, Rothman, Nash, Yates. 1944 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Phillips, 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma McNatt, Browning, Tucker, Carpenter, Freiberger, Clar, Pralle, Rothman. 1949 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Oakland Bittners Reimke, Williams, Voss, O'Gara, Barksdale, Fisher, Hanger, Fasholz, Silver, Minor. 1948 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma Beck, Nash, Reneck, Reich, Bob Kurland , Tucker, Carpenter, Beisser, Pitts, Jones. 1947 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma Carpenter, Martin, Stockman, Nash, Eggleston, Perrault, Reneck, Bob Kurland . 1946' , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma Mcnatt, Nash, Carpenter, Martin, Renick, Rothman, Lewis, Reisser. 1945 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma Nash, Rothman, McNatt, Browning, Linderman, Halbert, Carpenter, Yates, Schwartzer. 1954 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Peoria Cats Retherford, Minter, McCabe, Ron Bontemps , Gladson, Penwell, Sheets, Solomon. 1953 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Peoria Cats Ron Bontemps , Freiberger, McCabe, Pippin, Williams, Retherford, Minter, Penwell, Dean, Haarlow. 1952 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Peoria Caterpillar Diesels Ron Bontemps , Freiberger, McCabe, Pippin, Williams, Lafferty, Schmidt, Dempsey. 1951 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Stewart Chevrolet, San Francisco, California Walker, Yardley, Hendricksen, Crandall, Kuzara, Payne, Greenback, Laney, Bullwinkel. 1950 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma Beck, Lipscomb, Bennett, Stanich, Courtney, Bob Kurland , Williams, Tucker, Reich, Pryor. 1955 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66, Bartlesville, Oklahoma Walsh, Short, Darling, Ford, Houghland, Fuller, Mattick, Buchanan, Rivers. 1956 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Buchan Bakers, Seattle, Washington Parsons, Halberg, Jordan, Swyers, Glowaski, Guisness, B. H. Born , Cipriano, Koon. 1957 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: U.S. Air Force Dick Boushka , Don Bragg , Shag Warren, Ron Tomsic , Dick Welsh, Jim Coshow, Max Hooper, Allen Kelley , Mac McDonald, Eddie White. 1958 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Peoria Cats Bingham, Palmer, B. H. Born , Prudhoe, Plunkett, Schultz, Sullivan, Warden, Lee, Wolfe, A. Kelley, Crittenden, D. Kelley. 1959 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Wichita Vickers Boushka, Swartz, Boldebuck, Lane, Revon, Smith, King, Schramm, Mullen. 1960 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Peoria Cats Boozer, Adams, Prudhoe, Ohi, Crittenden, Plunkett, Kelley, Hill, Woll. 1961 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Cleveland Pipers, Cleveland Adams, Swartz, Sharrar, Taylor, Barnhill, McCollom, Hamilton. 1962 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66 Hagan, Robitallie, Frank, McNeil, Kojis, Thompson, Altenberg, Cole, Bowerman, Jerry Shipp , Price. 1963 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Phillips 66 Kojis, Jerry Shipp , Hagan, Price, Rascoe, Bowerman, Moran, Frank, Mounts, Pursiful. 1964 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Goodyear Wingfoots Arnold, Beckman, Larry Brown (MVP), Davies, McCaffrey, McCoy, Sharrar, Small, Whiteford, Williams. 1965 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Armed Forces All Stars Sheehan, Meyers, Birkle, Reloff, Connelly, USMC; Fowler, Mahonak, Reid, Vern Benson (MVP), USA; Stowers, USAF; Moor, USN. 1966 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Ford Mustangs Russell (MVP), Clawson, Johnson, Olson, Darden, Curtis, Murrey, Thompson, Tregoning, Washington. 1967 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Akron Goodyear Miller, Jim King , Anderson, Calvin Fowler , Vern Benson , Patterson, McCoy, Corell, Dabich, Hanson. 1968 , Denver Auditorium Arena , Denver, Colorado: Armed Forces All Stars Coach Hal Fisher , USA; S/Sgt. Jones, Manager, USAF: Darius Cunningham , John Clawson, George Carter , Mike Silliman , USA; Mike Redd, Marvin Willet , USMC; John Snipes , James Cole, USN; Mike Barrett (MVP), USN; Ken Bradley , Harry Gilmore , Bill Blair , USAF. 1969-1970: at Macon and Columbia 1969 , Macon, Georgia: Armed Forces All Stars Coach Hal Fisher, USA; Garfield Smith, Ken Washington, Rod McDonald, Mike Silliman, George Collier, Tal Brody , Harold Jeter , Bob Wolf, USA; Howard Hansen, USN; Mike Redd, Jim Meyers, USMC. 1970 , Columbia, South Carolina: Armed Forces All Stars Coach Hal Fisher, USA; Mike Redd, USMC; Mike Sillman, Garfield Smith , Tal Brody, Mike Wolf, Rod MacDonald, Ken Washington , Art Wilmore , Darnell Hillman , USA; Ed Whitehead, USAF. 1971-1973: at Kentucky 1971 , London Kentucky: Armed Forces All Stars Art Wilmore, Don Crenshaw, Bruce Sloan, Darnell Hillman, Jim Oxley, Fram Dumphy, Ron Krayl, Larry Bauer, USA; Chuck Kozak, USMC; Cliff Parsons, USAF; Hal Fisher, Coach, USA, Assistant Mike Krzyzewski , Jim Fox , USA. 1972 , London Kentucky: Armed Forces All Stars Bernie Barnes, Howard Hughes , Cliff Parsons, Ron Richards, Marv Schmitt, Gregg Popovich , USAF; Bill Squires , USMC; Paul Andrews, Don Crenshaw, Tom Daley, USA. 1973 , Ashland, Kentucky: Marathon Oil, Lexington, Kentucky Coaches ScottBaesler, Pat Doyle; Kenny Davis, Jim Lemaster, George Bryant , John Adams, Gene Kirk, Jim Day, Dan Argabright , Ketchel Strauss, Phil Argento , Darryl Dunagan. 1974-1976: at Baton Rouge 1974 , F. G. Clark Center , Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Jacksonville, Florida Coach Lowell Wood; Dan Foster, Rick Coleman, Chip Dublin, Otis Cole, Todd Lolich, Otis Johnson, Lawrence McCray, Abe Steward, Rex Morgan. 1975 , F. G. Clark Center , Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Capital Insulation, Los Angeles, California Louis Smith, Dwight Taylor, Paul Scranton , Larry Hollifield, Billy Jackson, Carl Toney, Richard Darnall, Hugh Fenderson, William Jankans, Robert Murray. 1976 , F. G. Clark Center , Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Athletes in Action, Tustin, California - at Charles Neal, Brad Hoffman, Eldon Lawyer , Randy Allen , David Lower, Doug Oxsen, Irvin Kiffin, Tim Hall, Dan Knight, John Sears. 1985 , Topeka, Kansas: Brewster Heights Packing, Brewster, Washington Coach John J. Pariseau, Assistant Coach Keith Kingsbury, Sponsor Ed Pariseau, Managers, Mike Pariseau, Mark Pariseau ; Eddie Smith, Pete Williams , Brian Kellerman , Jay Triano , John W. Pariseau, Eli Pasquale , Phil Zevenbergen , Mike Terpstra , Eric Brewe , Ray Brooks . 1986 , Topeka, Kansas: Continental/Coors, Houston, Texas Coach Marty Bratton ; Jimmy Gilbert, Greg Anderson, Nick Cucinella, Ron Baxter, Andrew Parker, Ernest Patterson , Alvin Franklin, Kevin Fitchett, Vick Ewing , Steve Sylestine, Harry O'Brian, Greg Skulman . 1987 , Topeka, Kansas: Brewster Heights Packing, Brewster, Washington Coach John J. Pariseau, Assistant Coach Keith Kingsbury, Sponsor Ed Pariseau; John W. Pariseau, Alvin Vaughn, Lorenzo Romar , Jay Triano, Zack Jones, Todd Burton, Phil Zevenbergen , Tom Gneiting, Eddie Smith, Sven Meyers, Ron Vanderschaaf. 1988 , Topeka, Kansas: Brewster Heights Packing, Brewster, Washington Coach John J. Pariseau, Assistant Coach Keith Kingsbury, Sponsor Ed Pariseau; John W. Pariseau, Brian Kellerman, Lorenzo Romar, Phil Hopson, Jay Triano , Dan Weiss, Ricky Brown, Zak Jones, Al Kristmanson, Kevin Sprewer. 1989 , Topeka, Kansas: US Armed Forces - at Topeka, Kansas Coaches Harold Johnson and Bill Carry; Earl Wilson, Kevin Houston, Timothy Wilson, Samural Addison, Kevin Bradshaw, Dion Brown, Raymond Lettstom, K.E. Whittaker, Walter Golden , Willie Linder, Charles Bailey , David Robinson . 1990 , Topeka, Kansas: Sam Ragnone, Attorney - Flint, Michigan - at Topeka, Kansas Coach Sam Ragnone; Joel Ragland , Lamar Edwards, Darrin Fitzgerald, Tom Hawkins, Terry Duerod, Eric Turner, Ray Keiser, Greg Kelser , Lorenzo Orr, Zack Hicks, Rony Thompkins, Ernest Williams. 1991 , Topeka, Kansas: Lafayette Hustlers - Lafayette, Indiana Coach Jim Bower, Ryan Berning , Ricky Hall, Derrick Johnson, Kip Jones , Walter Jordan , John Teague, Shawn Teague, Chad Tucker, Tim Hasley, T. Cutter. 1992 , Topeka, Kansas: Sam Ragnone Attorney - Flint, Michigan Coach Sam Ragnone, Darrin Fitzgerald, Lamar Edwards , Eric Turner, Terry Duerod (MVP), Gilvannie Johnson, Jones, Phil Hubbard , Greg Kelser . 1993 , Topeka, Kansas: USA Verich Reps - Warren, Ohio Coach Louis Cathcart , Derrick Fields , Mergin Sina, Darrin Morningstar , Bill Edwards , Johnny McDole, Louis Geter, Trig Lee, Dapris Owens, Harris, Craig, Hodges. 1994 , Topeka, Kansas: MNS Stars - Kansas City, Missouri Coach Milton R. Bradley, Nate Buntin, Stan Bradley, Aaron Collier , Michael Irvin, Will Scott, Jamal Coleman, Deryl Kearney , Deryl Conningham , Stan Bradley, Jay Boster, Cody, Waters. 1995 , Topeka, Kansas: Team Pella - Des Moines, Iowa Michael Born, Ron Bayless, Brad Pippett, Howard Eaton, Sam Powell, Fred Brown, Paul Doerrfeld. 1996 , Topeka, Kansas: Bankers and Investors-Kansas City, Missouri Coach Riley Maher, Burce Chubick, Eugene Cheadle, Rick Muller, Brian Maher, Dion Barnes, Tom Wald, Ralph Davis, Mac Irvin, Terrance Badgett, Erwin Claggett, Chris Haynes. 1997 , Topeka, Kansas: Marathon Basketball - Joliette, Illinois Coach Mark Simpson, Curt Smith, Erwin Claggett, Willie Murdaugh, Jerald Ryner, Jeff Harris, Steve Showalter, Rick Hughes, Mikki Moore. 1998 , Topeka, Kansas: Pella Windows - Des Moines, IA Coach Michael J. Born, Michael Born, Ron Bayless, Carl Pickett, Brad Pippett, Troy Wade, Tony Harvey, Jeff Hrubes. 1977 , Lake Worth, Florida: Armed Forces All Stars Coach Hal Fisher, Assistant Wilbert Logan; Jyrona Ralston, Robert Sherwin, Eddie Brown, Pierre Russell, James Penn, George Hester, Jerome Benning, Ron Brown, Bobby Young, Richard McGuire, Alfred Forney, L.C. Pierce. 1978 , at London, Kentucky: Christian Youth Center, Joliet Illinois Coach Glen Sergent; Tim Bryant, Dennis Taylor, Steve Clum, Jim Bocinski, Huby Marshall, Jim Calhoun, Frank Kaminsky, Houston Lloyd, Bill Glover. 1979 , Ponca City, Oklahoma: Christian Youth Center, Joliet, Illinois Coach Glen Sergent; Allan Hardy (MVP), Dennis Taylor, Steve Clum, Jim Bocinski, Huby Marshall, Kerry Hughes, Frank Kaminsky, Craig Burtyn, Bill Glover. 1979 and 1980: at Florida 1980 , St. Augustine, Florida: Airliner Basketball Club, Iowa City, Iowa Coach Jim Baker, Assistant Dante Vignaroli, Sponsor Doug Tvedt; Fred Haberecht, Mike Gatens, Neil Fegebank, Glenn Vicnovic, William Mayfield, Clay Hargrave, Rick Engel, Pete Griffin, Tom Norma, Dick Peth, John Hairston, Gary DeCarlo. 1981 , St. Augustine, Florida: Brewster-Heights Packing, Brewster, Washington Coach John J. Pariseau, Assistant Keith Kingsbury, Sponsor Ed Pariseau; Joe Leonard, Mark Scott, Marion Pericin, Tony Barnes, Stan Walker, Todd Burton, Dennis Johnson, Jeff Stoutt, Wayne Smith, Joe Webb. 1982 , Portland Oregon: Brewster Heights Packing, Brewster, Washington Coach John J. Pariseau, Assistant Keith Kingsbury, Sponsor Ed Pariseau; Joe Webb, Eric Brewe, Gene Glenn, Dan Caldwell, Todd Burton, Joe Leonard, Steve Matzen, Rob Visser, Ray Orange, Billy Turney Loos, John Greig, John W. Pariseau. 1983 , Ponca City, Oklahoma: Houston Flyers, Houston, Texas Coach Marty Bratton, Assistant Howard Knight, John Flewellen; Latrell Mitchell, Harry O'Brien, Steve Sylestine, Ed Jeffries, Andrew Parker, Ricky Hooker, Randy Martel, Hiram Harrison, David Marrs, Larry Hendrix, Kenny Austin. 1984 , Las Vegas, Nevada: Paul-Son Dice, Las Vegas, Nevada Coach Larry Keever, Manager Mike Pilz, Sponsor Paul-Son Dice and Card, Inc; Terry Manghum, Alan Holder, Melvin Washington, Bobby Joe Jacobs, Cris Jackson, Armon Gilliam, Mel Bennet, Keith Star, Greg Goorjian, Kenny Harmon, Sam Smith. 1999-2000 at Des Moines 1999 , Sisam Arena , Des Moines, Iowa: Palmer's Tornadoes, Des Moines, IA Coach David Palmer, Sam Crawford, David Palmer, Tim Gill, Lamar Hillsman, Darrel "A.J." Waley, Stan Gouard , Rocky Walls, Wayne Houston, Ed Johnson, Ray Poindexter. 2000 , Sisam Arena , Des Moines, Iowa: Palmer's Tornadoes – Des Moines, IA Coach Stan Gouard, Asst. Coach David Palmer, Wayne Houston ( MVP ), Kevin Sams, Justin Wimmer, Tim Gill, Lonnie Cooper, Tyrone Barksdale, D. Taylor, Carl Pickett, Ed Johnson, M. Stephany. 2001-2005 at Sacramento 2001 , Cosumnes River College , Sacramento, CA: Shell-Widman – Elk Grove, CA Coach David Shell, Shann Ferch ( MVP ), Charles Terrell , Ali Thomas, Robert Richardson, Lossie Mitchell , Thomas Washington , Justin Leslie, Jason Cox, Rich Manning , Tito Addison , Jimmie Carol. 2002 , Cosumnes River College , Sacramento, CA: Posse – San Jose, CA – at Sacramento, California Coach Joe Molina, Asst. Coach Al Gordon, Brian Jones ( MVP ), Wayman Strickland, Champ Wrencher, Darrel Teat, Dave Smith, Chris Samdahl , Steve Ross, Richard Morton, Julius Hicks , Brian Gomez. 2003 , Cosumnes River College , Sacramento, CA: Sunny's Rebels – Seattle, WA Coach Sunny Backlund, Antuan Jones ( MVP ), Jackie Jones, Chuck Johnson, Donald Watts, Brian Dennis, Darnell Taylor, Chris Walcott 2004 , Cosumnes River College , Sacramento, CA: Maine Lobsters, Bangor, Maine Coach Charlie Wilson, Fred Hooks ( MVP ), Demarius Akins, Moses Alvarez, Ed Fontaine, William Genung, Shaun Jackson, Fred Nichols, Rico Redd, TK Reed, Alton "Sonny" Smith, Shannon Taylor, Al Williams 2005 , Cosumnes River College , Sacramento, CA: Mitchell-McKineyz "New Beginnings 4 Youth," Columbus, Ohio Coach Tony Rice, Tony Rice (MVP), Larry Abney, Ben Berry, Tony Givens, Isaac Jefferson , John Spain, Orenthall Strothers , Shannon Swillis, Chad Younger. 2007: NA 2006: NA 2008, Cocoa Beach, Florida: 102 Jamz, Orlando, Florida Brian S, Mike S, Mike E (MVP), Jason, Shawn S, T’here, Pete, Dave 2009, Reno, Nevada: Gold Rush, San Francisco, CA Coach, Rick Lewis : Jovan Harris (MVP), Cardell butler, Xavier McNally , Dean Browne, John Tofi, Johnny Dukes, Reggie Smith , Larry Reggie . The AAU also sent teams to

1944-568: The "Lakers legends" to whom O'Neal was compared. Since April 2001, a statue of Mikan shooting his trademark hook shot has graced the entrance to the Minnesota Timberwolves' Target Center . In addition, a banner in the Staples Center commemorates Mikan and his fellow Minneapolis Lakers. He is also honored by a statue and an appearance on a mural in his hometown of Joliet, Illinois . Mikan's 1948 Bowman trading card

2025-561: The 1930s, the only professional basketball teams were barnstormers like the House of David and the Harlem Globetrotters . In all those years the 66ers played against teams fielded by various commercial companies, under the sanction of the Amateur Athletic Union. Paul Endacott and promising talent David Perkins emerged as pivotal figures during the 1930s for the team. Phillips gradually gained recognition, securing second place in

2106-533: The 1948–49 season. The 66ers won the AAU title again in 1949–50, but that was followed by two bare seasons in 1950–1951 and 1951–1952 where they did not manage to repeat the triumph in the Olympic Trial Games (Peoria Caterpillars won the playoffs). Kurland set a record by being named to his second Olympic team in 1952, but he broke a lot of hearts in Bartlesville by deciding to retire just after

2187-420: The 1953–54 season, Mikan announced his retirement. He later said: "I had a family growing, and I decided to be with them. I felt it was time to get started with the professional world outside of basketball." Injuries also were a factor, as Mikan had sustained 10 broken bones and 16 stitches in his career and often played through these injuries. Without Mikan, the Lakers made the playoffs , but were unable to reach

2268-617: The 66ers earned 1543 wins against 271 losses. Twelve 66ers and two coaches represented the United States in Olympic tournaments, and three of them were the only amateur players to have ever played on two Olympic basketball teams. The club ceased operations in 1968. Phillips Petroleum was established in 1917, amidst the burgeoning oil industry. In 1919, upon their return from World War I, a group of local individuals in Bartlesville sought employment opportunities at Phillips. Some of them, inspired by their shared experiences, decided to create

2349-585: The 66ers enlisting in the military. Bill Martin joined the Army Air Corps in 1942, followed by John Freiberger in 1943, resulting in a decline in the team's performance during the 1941–1942 season. Phillips dominated the AAU titles from 1943 to 1948, winning six straight titles and posting a 241–24 record (+909) against all comers. With the World War II war ongoing in 1943 and Phillips being a war-related industry, most of its employees were exempt from

2430-449: The 66ers more popular and powerful than ever. Huge crowds thronged to the Bartlesville high school gym, which only seated 1,400 to see Kurland and the 66ers rolled to a 52–2 record in 1946–47. It was the year that the war had ended, and most of the former players returned, including Freiberger and Martin. Those two teamed up with Bob Kurland and the 66ers rolled to their fourth straight AAU championship in 1946–1947 season. The 66ers achieved

2511-703: The AAU Basketball Hall of Fame. In the 1930s, these All-Americans included Jay Wallenstrom (1937) and Ray Ebbing (1939). In the 1940s, Phillips 66 All-Americans were the players below: The players below played for the USA Team in major tournaments representing the 66ers. The Phillips 66ers won 11 out of the 14 championships organized by the NIBL from 1947 to 1961 and 11 Athletic Amateur leagues from 1940 to 1963. They managed to collect 27 championship medals in total. AAU men%27s basketball tournament The Amateur Athletic Union Tournament

Phillips 66ers - Misplaced Pages Continue

2592-549: The AAU tournament in both the 1936–37 and 1938–39 seasons, boasting an impressive 36–11 record. Notably, three of those 11 losses were inflicted by the Oklahoma City Parks. Following the disbandment of the Parks after the season, Phillips recruited their top two players, Grady Lewis and Bill Martin, both of whom had earned AAU All-America honors. G. Harold "Smitty" Schmidt took over coaching duties for 2–4 years towards

2673-582: The AAU. Popovich and Robinson represented the U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars . Between 1920 and 1950, some of the strongest basketball teams in the United States were sponsored by corporations, including Phillips 66 , 20th Century Fox , Safeway Inc. , Caterpillar Inc. , and others. By the early 1930s, a few teams had earned reputations for basketball excellence and produced AAU All-Americans such as Forrest DeBernardi, Melvin Miller and Chuck Hyatt. In 1936

2754-837: The Akron Goodyears, the Denver D-C Truckers and the Wichita Vickers. These teams played a full schedule each season, topping 30 games a year and traveling throughout the country. Some of them also helped introduce the American style of basketball to foreign players. In 1956, the Buchan Bakers played games in Japan, the Philippines, France, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Spain. During the 1950s,

2835-463: The Bartlesville station, celebrated as champions. Although the team secured second place in the 1940–1941 season, they faced a setback in a post-season Red Cross benefit game in Tulsa, where they lost to Arkansas, led by the towering 6–8 center John Freiberger, who would later join the 66ers. However, the outbreak of World War II and the involvement of the United States led to most of the top players from

2916-717: The Games. The following year (1953) Clyde Lovellette joined Mikan signing for the Minneapolis Lakers . In 1953 a 6–6 foot forward named Pete Silas signed from the NCAA Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets . Silas had led the Southeastern Conference in scoring despite competing against such talented players as Cliff Hagan and Frank Ramsey and Louisiana State's Bob Pettit . He made the Armed Forces All-Stars and played on

2997-531: The Heat and the Detroit Pistons , there was a moment of silence to honor Mikan. Bob Cousy remarked that Mikan figuratively carried the NBA in the early days and single-handedly made the league credible and popular. Mikan is lauded as the pioneer of the modern age of basketball. He scored 11,764 points (an average of 22.6 per game) and averaged 13.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 520 NBL, BAA and NBA games. As

3078-578: The Lakers played in St. Paul and the Knicks in the damp, dimly lit 69th Regiment Armory . Perpetually double-teamed by Knicks' Nat Clifton and Harry Gallatin , Mikan was unable to assert himself, and the two teams split the first six games. In the only true home game, Game 7 in the Auditorium, the Lakers won 82–65 and edged the Knicks 4–3, winning the NBA title and earning themselves $ 7,500 to split amongst

3159-3790: The NBA and the formation of the American Basketball Association in the late 1960s, the annual National AAU Tournament faded from prominence. 1897 New York 23 Street YMCA (1) ( Round Robin ) 1898 not held 1899 New York Knickerbocker Athletic Club (1) ( Round Robin ) 1900 New York Knickerbocker Athletic Club (2) ( Round Robin ) 1901 Ravenwood YMCA (1) 1902 not held 1903 not held 1904 Buffalo Germans (1) ( Round Robin ) 1905 Kansas City Athletic Club (1) 1910 National Guard Co. F 1911 not held 1912 not held 1913 Armour Square Cornells (1) ( Round Robin ) 1914 Armour Square Cornells (2) 1915 San Francisco Olympic Club (1) 1916 University of Utah Utes (1) 1917 Illinois Athletic Club (1) 1918 not held due to World War I 1919 Los Angeles Athletic Club (1) 1920 New York University Violets (1) 1921 Kansas City Athletic Club (2) 1922 Lowe and Campbell (1) 1923 Kansas City Athletic Club (3) 1924 Butler University Bulldogs (1) 1925 Washburn College Ichabods (1) 1926 Hillyard Chemical Shine Alls (1) 1927 Hillyard Chemical Shine Alls (2) 1928 Cook's Paint Boys (1) 1929 Cook's Paint Boys (2) 1930 Wichita Clothiers (1) 1931 Wichita Clothiers (2) 1932 Wichita Clothiers (3) 1933 Diamond DX Oilers (1) 1934 Diamond DX Oilers (2) 1935 South Kansas Stage Lines (1) 1936 Globe Refiners (1) 1937 Denver Safeway Stores (1) 1938 Healey Motors (1) 1939 Denver Nuggets (2) 1940 Phillips 66ers (1) 1941 20th Century Fox (1) 1942 Denver American Legion (3) 1943 Phillips 66ers (2) 1944 Phillips 66ers (3) 1945 Phillips 66ers (4) 1946 Phillips 66ers (5) 1947 Phillips 66ers (6) 1948 Phillips 66ers (7) 1949 Oakland Bittners (1) 1950 Phillips 66ers (8) 1951 Stewart Chevrolet (1) 1952 Peoria Caterpillars (1) 1953 Peoria Caterpillars (2) 1954 Peoria Caterpillars (3) 1955 Phillips 66ers (9) 1956 Buchan Bakers (1) 1957 U.S. Air Force All-Stars (1) 1958 Peoria Caterpillars (4) 1959 Wichita Vickers (1) 1960 Peoria Caterpillars (5) 1961 Cleveland Pipers (1) 1962 Phillips 66ers (10) 1963 Phillips 66ers (11) 1964 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots (1) 1965 U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars (1) 1966 Ford Mustangs (1) 1967 Goodyear Wingfoots (2) 1968 U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars (2) 1969 U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars (3) 1970 U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars (4) 1971 U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars (5) 1972 U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars (6) 1973 Marathon Oil (1) 1974 Jacksonville All-Stars (1) 1975 Capital Insulation (1) 1976 Athletes in Action (1) 1977 U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars (7) 1978 Joliet Christian Youth Center (1) 1979 Joliet Christian Youth Center (2) 1980 Airliner Basketball Club (1) 1981 Brewster-Heights Packing (1) 1982 Brewster-Heights Packing (2) 1983 Houston Flyers (1) 1984 Paul-Son Dice (1) 1985 Brewster-Heights Packing (3) 1986 Continental/Coors (1) 1987 Brewster-Heights Packing (4) 1988 Brewster-Heights Packing (5) 1989 U.S. Armed Forces All-Stars (8) 1990 Sam Ragnone Attorney (1) 1991 Lafayette Hustlers (1) 1992 Sam Ragnone Attorney (2) 1993 USA Verich Reps (1) 1994 MNS Stars (1) 1999 Palmer's Tornadoes (1) 2000 Palmer's Tornadoes (2) 2005 The New Beginnings B.C. (1) 1898-1900 at New York 1898 , Madison Square Garden , New York City: 23rd St. Y.M.C.A New York (later known as

3240-927: The Olympic Trial Games organized before each Olympic tournament. The results of the teams would finally decide the players would play for the USA Team in the Olympics. The playoffs had a massive interest drawing huge crowds to the hosting venues. Similar games were organized for the FIBA World Cups. 1936: Universal Pictures - McPherson Globe Refiners 44-43 1948: Phillips 66ers - Kentucky Wildcats 53-49 1952: Peoria Caterpillars - Kansas University Jayhawks 62-60 1956: Phillips 66ers 1959: NCAA All-Stars (3–0) - Phillips 66ers (2–1) 1901: Buffalo Germans 1950: Denver Chevrolets 1954: Peoria Caterpillars George Mikan George Lawrence Mikan Jr. ( / ˈ m aɪ k ə n / ; June 18, 1924 – June 1, 2005), nicknamed " Mr. Basketball ",

3321-455: The basket on offense. A main proponent of this rule was New York Knicks coach Joe Lapchick , who regarded Mikan as his nemesis; the rule was dubbed "The Mikan Rule". While Mikan still scored an impressive 23.8 points per game, this output was less than his 27.4 points per game the previous season. Also, his field goal percentage sank from .428 to .385. He still pulled down 13.5 rebounds per game and logged 3.0 assists per game. Mikan also had

Phillips 66ers - Misplaced Pages Continue

3402-428: The basketball world. His plight also brought media attention to the financial struggles of several early-era NBA players. Many felt that the players of the big-money generation should rally for larger pensions for the pre-1965 predecessors in labor negotiations. Shaquille O'Neal paid for Mikan's funeral, saying: "Without number 99 [Mikan], there is no me." Before Game Five of the 2005 Eastern Conference Finals between

3483-590: The century by The Associated Press, Mikan was on the Helms Athletic Foundation all-time All-American team, chosen in a 1952 poll. He also made the 25th and 35th NBA Anniversary Teams of 1970 and 1980 and was chosen as one of the NBA 50 Greatest Players in 1996. Mikan was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in its inaugural 1959 class. Mikan's impact on the game is also reflected in

3564-428: The daytime and practiced at night. They got no special treatment, except for being excused from work at noon on game day. As the pro salaries increased, it got harder to get and keep quality players. But still a few good players came to Bartlesville. Like a 6–1 guard from the lowly Wabash College named Charlie Bowerman , and Gary Thompson from Iowa State. Thompson helped the 66ers win the 1961–1962 AAU tournament, and he

3645-554: The draft. And with other AAU teams weakened the 66ers won AAU titles in 1943–44, 1944–45 and 1945–1946. In the 1945–46 season, the college basketball was dominated by the first two "modern big men George Mikan of the DePaul Blue Demons , and two-time NCAA champion Bob Kurland of the Oklahoma A&;M Aggies . Bob Kurland became a 66er in 1946 and considered the club's greatest player since then. Kurland made

3726-573: The end of the 1930s, bringing with him experience as a player under Phog Allen at the University of Kansas. With Lewis, Martin, and talents like Joe Fortenberry and Don Lockard on the roster, the 66ers dominated with a 48–5 record. Their pinnacle moment came with a thrilling 39–36 victory over the reigning champions, the Denver Nuggets , in the finals of the 1939–1940 AAU tournament. The team received an enthusiastic welcome upon their return to

3807-465: The first commissioner of the upstart American Basketball Association, a rival league to the NBA. In order to lure basketball fans to his league, Mikan invented the league's characteristic red-white-and-blue ABA ball, which he thought more patriotic, better suited for television, and more crowd-pleasing than the brown NBA ball. He also instituted a three-point line . Mikan resigned from the ABA in 1969, but

3888-553: The first four NBA All-Star games and was a member of the first six All-BAA and All-NBA Teams . Mikan was so dominant that he prompted several significant rule changes in the NBA, including the introduction of the goaltending rule , the widening of the foul lane—known as the "Mikan Rule"—and the creation of the shot clock . After his playing career, Mikan became one of the founders of the American Basketball Association (ABA), serving as commissioner of

3969-535: The gold medal-winning Pan-American Games team in 1955. Despite the fact that Silas was in the Army the 66ers led by a 6–9 scoring-machine forward from Colorado named Burdie Haldorson won the 1956 Olympic Trials playoffs and sent five men to the 1956 Olympics . Haldorson set the team record by scoring 53 points against the Cleveland Pipers in 1960. He also tied Kurland's record by making the Olympic team for

4050-411: The hardest and grittiest players in the league, often playing through injuries and punishing opposing centers with hard fouls. In addition, Mikan surprised the basketball world with his ability to goaltend , swatting balls in flight before they could reach the hoop. "We would set up a zone defense that had four men around the key and I guarded the basket," Mikan later recalled. "When the other team took

4131-465: The knee due to his illness. When his medical insurance was cut off, Mikan found himself in severe financial difficulties. He fought a protracted legal battle against the NBA and the NBA Players' Union, protesting the $ 1,700/month pensions for players who had retired before 1965 (the start of the so-called "big money era"). According to Mel Davis of the National Basketball Retired Players Union, this battle kept him going because Mikan hoped to be alive when

SECTION 50

#1732790775421

4212-399: The league continued to operate until 1976. In the mid-1980s, nearly 25 years after the Lakers had moved to Los Angeles in 1960 and after the ABA's Minnesota Muskies and Minnesota Pipers had departed, Mikan headed a task force with the goal of returning professional basketball to Minneapolis. This bid was successful, leading to the inception of the new Minnesota Timberwolves franchise in

4293-414: The league's MVP and the Lakers won the NBL title. In April 1948, he led the Lakers to victory in the World Professional Basketball Tournament , where he was named MVP after scoring a tournament-record 40 points against the New York Renaissance in the title-clinching game. The following year, the Lakers and three other NBL franchises jumped to the fledgling Basketball Association of America . Mikan led

4374-451: The league. He was instrumental in forming the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves expansion team. In his later years, Mikan was involved in a long-standing legal battle against the NBA to increase the meager pensions of players who had retired before the league became lucrative. In 2005, Mikan died of complications from chronic diabetes . For his accomplishments, Mikan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959. He

4455-431: The most notorious NBA games ever played. When the Fort Wayne Pistons played against his Lakers, the Pistons took a 19–18 lead. Afraid that Mikan would mount a comeback if he got the ball, the Pistons passed the ball around without any attempt to score a basket. With no shot clock invented yet to force them to shoot, the score remained 19–18 until the game's end. The game is the lowest-scoring NBA game of all time. This game

4536-430: The national AAU tournament, as did the next year's version. Then, with the Depression raging, Phillips dropped basketball to concentrate on survival. That strategy worked, and by 1936, Phillips was more convinced than ever that a strong basketball team would be good for business. The AAU's annual tournament drew the best players in the world, as well as thousands of fans and dozens of sports writers and broadcasters. During

4617-497: The new league in scoring, and again set a single-season scoring record. The Lakers defeated the Washington Capitols in the 1949 BAA Finals . In 1949, the BAA and NBL merged to form the NBA. The new league started the inaugural 1949–50 NBA season , featuring 17 teams, with the Lakers in the Central Division . Mikan again was dominant, averaging 27.4 points per game and 2.9 assists per game and taking another scoring title; After posting an impressive 51–17 record and storming through

4698-401: The now 29-year-old Mikan slowly declined, averaging 18.1 points, 14.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Under his leadership, the Lakers won another NBA title, giving the team its third-straight championship and fifth in six years. From an NBA perspective, the Minneapolis Lakers dynasty has only been convincingly surpassed by the eleven-title Boston Celtics dynasty of 1957–69. At the end of

4779-408: The playoffs , Mikan's team played the 1950 NBA Finals against the Syracuse Nationals . In Game 1, the Lakers beat Syracuse on their home court when Lakers reserve guard Bob Harrison made a 40-foot buzzer beater to give Minneapolis a two-point win. The team split the next four games, and in Game 6, the Lakers won 110–95 and won the first-ever NBA championship. Mikan scored 31.3 points per game in

4860-448: The playoffs. In the 1950–51 NBA season , Mikan was dominant again, scoring a career-best 28.4 points per game in the regular season. He won another scoring crown and averaged 3.1 assists per game. In that year, the NBA introduced a new statistic: rebounds . In this category, Mikan also stood out; his 14.1 rebounds per game (rpg) was second only to the 16.4 rpg of Dolph Schayes of Syracuse. In that year, Mikan participated in one of

4941-404: The public. This prompted Phillips' leadership to make significant investments in their basketball team. In 1929, Lou Wilkie, the coach of Phillips University of Enid, was hired as the team's first full-time coach. Additionally, several skilled players, many of whom hailed from the disbanded Mid-Continent Oil Co. team, were recruited to bolster the roster. The 1929–30 team lost in the second round of

SECTION 60

#1732790775421

5022-437: The rosters of the top amateur teams were filled with former college stars, many of whom had been drafted by the NBA, which was still in its formative years. The amateur teams sometimes offered more money than the pro teams as well as the security of full-time employment. AAU basketball was particularly strong in the Midwest, Southwest and West Coast, where the NBA had not yet established a presence. The top teams also played in

5103-449: The second time in 1960 Olympics . He retired after that and went to work for Phillips' Denver division. By the time Haldorson retired, AAU basketball was dying a slow death. TV had discovered the NBA , and the pros were starting to stabilize and pay more money than teams like Phillips could. The National Industrial Basketball League , the top amateur loop, disbanded in 1961. The Phillips players were strictly amateurs. They worked during

5184-418: The significance of the tournament soared as it became integral part of the process to select US first Olympic team. When the stakes became higher, the competition between AAU and NCAA grew more intense as each organization asserted its claim to represent the US in international competition But the AAU tournaments came to rise during the 1950s and 1960s with teams like the Phillips 66ers, the Peoria Caterpillars,

5265-414: The team members. During the 1952–53 NBA season , Mikan averaged 20.6 points per game, a career-high 14.4 rebounds per game, and 2.9 assists per game. His rebounding average was the highest in the league. In the 1953 NBA All-Star Game , Mikan had 22 points and 16 rebounds and won that game's MVP Award. The Lakers made the 1953 NBA Finals and again defeated the Knicks 4–1. In the 1953–54 NBA season ,

5346-426: The time. Later that season, the Lakers reached the 1952 NBA Finals and were pitted against the New York Knicks. This qualified as one of the strangest Finals series in NBA history, as neither team could play on their home court in the first six games. The Lakers' Minneapolis Auditorium was already booked, and the Knicks' Madison Square Garden was occupied by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus . Instead,

5427-449: The tournament, won the national championship in 1956. Other one-time winners included the Oakland Bittners, led by Don Barksdale , in 1949 and Stewart Chevrolet, led by George Yardley , in 1951. The appeal of AAU basketball began to decline in the early 1960s as the NBA gained prominence with such players as Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain , Elgin Baylor , Oscar Robertson and Jerry West . The NIBL folded in 1961, and with expansion of

5508-570: Was also named to the 25th , 35th , 50th and 75th NBA anniversary teams. Mikan was born on June 18, 1924, in Joliet, Illinois , to a Croatian father, Joseph, and a Lithuanian mother, Minnie, along with brothers Joe and Ed and sister Marie. His grandfather, Juraj (George) Mikan was born in Vivodina , Croatia , then part of Austria-Hungary , in or about 1874. Juraj emigrated to Braddock, Pennsylvania , in 1891, where he married another Croatian immigrant, Marija, in 1906 in Allegheny, Pennsylvania . On October 17, 1907, Mikan's father Joseph

5589-488: Was an American professional basketball player for the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBL, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). Invariably playing with thick, round spectacles , the 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m), 245 lb (111 kg) Mikan was one of the pioneers of professional basketball. Through his size and play, he redefined basketball as

5670-458: Was an important factor in the development of the shot clock, which was introduced four years later. Mikan had scored 15 of the Lakers' 18 points, thus scoring 83.3% of his team's points and setting an NBA all-time record. In the postseason, Mikan fractured his leg before the 1951 Western Division Finals against the Rochester Royals . With Mikan hardly able to move all series long, the Royals won 3–1. Decades later, in 1990, Mikan recalled that his leg

5751-408: Was at one point the most expensive basketball card ever sold. In October 2022, Mikan was inaugurated into the Croatian-American Sports Hall of Fame. On October 30, 2022, the Lakers retired Mikan's No. 99 jersey. Mikan became so dominant that the NBA changed its rules of play in order to reduce his influence. The league widened the lane from six to twelve feet ("The Mikan Rule"). He also played

5832-927: Was born, and soon thereafter the family moved to Joliet, where they opened Mikan's Tavern at the corner of Elsie Avenue and North Broadway. As a boy, Mikan shattered one of his knees so badly that he was kept in bed for a year and a half. In 1938, Mikan attended the Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and originally wanted to be a Catholic priest but later moved back home to finish at Joliet Catholic . Mikan did not seem destined to become an athlete. When Mikan entered Chicago's DePaul University in 1942, he stood 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m), weighed 245 lb (111 kg), moved awkwardly because of his frame, and wore thick glasses for his nearsightedness. While in high school, Mikan met 28-year-old rookie DePaul basketball coach Ray Meyer . Meyer saw potential in Mikan, who

5913-503: Was bright and intelligent but was also clumsy and shy. Meyer's thoughts were revolutionary for the time, when it was still believed that tall players were too awkward to ever play basketball well. In the following months, Meyer transformed Mikan into a confident, aggressive player who took pride in his height rather than being ashamed of it. Meyer and Mikan worked out intensively, and Mikan learned how to make hook shots accurately with either hand. His workout routine would become later known as

5994-476: Was determined by play in regional AAU tournaments, and included the top industrial teams, armed services teams, and often teams just put together for the tournament. Between 1943 and 1963, the Phillips 66ers won the tournament 10 times and the Peoria Caterpillars won five times. But there was always a chance for a surprise team to slip past the favorites. The Buchan Bakers, long shots at the outset of

6075-549: Was named Most Valuable Player after scoring 100 points in five games. Mikan was also chosen for the All-NBL Team. Before the start of the 1947–48 NBL season, Gears owner Maurice White pulled the team out of the league. White attempted to create a 24-team league called the Professional Basketball League of America in which he owned all the teams and arenas. However, the league folded after just

6156-598: Was named the Helms NCAA College Player of the Year in 1944 and 1945 and was an All-American basketball player three times. In 1945, he led DePaul to the NIT title, which at that time was more prestigious than the NCAA title. Mikan led the nation in scoring with 23.9 points per game in 1944–45 and 23.1 points per game in 1945–46. When DePaul won the 1945 NIT, Mikan was named Most Valuable Player for scoring 120 points in three games, including 53 points in

6237-458: Was named the MVP. In the 1960s the AAU basketball faced hard times. The Big Ten had always prohibited its teams from playing AAU squads, and in the mid-60s other conferences followed suit. Newspapers started cutting down on space given to AAU teams, partly because of the pro glut and partly because of an attitude that companies should pay for all advertising and publicity. The team cost about $ 150,000

6318-417: Was no NCAA tournament. Joining the 66ers in 1927 as a Phillips employee, Endacott brought his talents to the team. Concurrently, a rivalry with Phillips University of Enid, the national collegiate runner-up, began to intensify. During the 1928–29 season, Phillips 66 did not field a team. However, the subsequent season marked a pivotal moment coinciding with the company's initiation of marketing its products to

6399-401: Was taped with a plate; however, despite effectively hopping around the court on one foot, he said he still averaged 20-odd points per game. In the 1951–52 NBA season , the NBA decided to widen the foul lane under the basket from 6 feet to 12 feet. As players could stay in the lane for only three seconds at a time, the widened lane forced big men like Mikan to position themselves further from

6480-528: Was the second time Rupp had played second fiddle to a Phillips man. He was a back-up to Paul Endacott in their college days at Kansas. The Phillips 66ers' record finished in 1949 after the Oilers lost to the Oakland Bittners in the AAU finals. According to George Durham, the team's publicity director and business manager for 20 years that team generated approximately $ 545,000 in free publicity during

6561-525: Was universally seen as the prototypical "gentle giant"—tough and relentless on the court, but friendly and amicable in private life. He was also the older brother of Ed Mikan , who played basketball for DePaul, played in the BAA , and played for the Philadelphia Warriors of the NBA. In his later years, Mikan developed diabetes and failing kidneys. Eventually, his right leg was amputated below

#420579