The First "Superstar": George Mikan
6' 10" George Mikan was the NBA's first superstar and was the star of the NBA's first dynasty. His career started in 1946 with the Chicago American Gears of the NBL. After his team folded, Mikan ended up on the Minneapolis Lakers. The Lakers won the 1948 NBL Championship, and then moved to the BAA. Mikan and the Lakers proceeded to win the 1949 BAA Championship. After that season, the BAA and the NBL merged to form the NBA. Mikan would go on to win 4 more NBA titles before his career concluded in 1956. This included a title in 1950, and three from 1952 to 1954. George Mikan lives on as one of the greatest basketball players ever. He was considered the first star center, and the first "superstar." The NBA had to change their rules to stop Mikan from completely dominating the game. In 1959, George Mikan was inducted into the James Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
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