Lakers: 20 Greatest Individual Performances in Franchise History
By Eric Yee
Dec 9, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) shoots a game tying shot over Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime at Target Center. The Timberwolves won 123-122 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
14. George Mikan 61 Points, 36 Rebounds 1952
When discussing the Los Angeles Lakers’ great centers, the list normally consists as follows: Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, Wilt Chamberlain, and Shaquille O’Neal. But the player who is more often than not the odd man odd is George Mikan, who was a monster in his seven-year career.
True, it was a different time. The game of basketball probably resembled another sport more so than the type of basketball that is played today, but the old adage remains true, “Numbers don’t lie,” and George Mikan put up some big boy numbers.
Stats were not kept with the most consistency during this era, but it is well accepted that Mikan was a walking double-double, posting 20-plus points and double-digit rebounds on a regular basis.
On January 20, 1952, Mikan posted 61 points and reportedly had 36 rebounds in a double overtime victory over the Rochester Royals. If the reports are true, then Mikan has more rebounds in a single game than any player since the 1985-86 NBA season.
Mikan also went on to lead the Minneapolis Lakers to the NBA Finals, beating the New York Knicks in seven games and then to two more in the following years, for the first three-peat in NBA history. If that doesn’t get him some credibility with the fans, nothing will.
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