The 10 Greatest Lakers in history, ranked by Player Efficiency Rating (PER)
By Will Eudy
2. George Mikan - 27.1
The first true superstar in NBA history, George Mikan landed with the Minneapolis Lakers of the National Basketball League in 1947 (they would later become part of the NBA) after the previous American league he was playing with went under. Playing at DePaul University in college, Mikan helped put the Lakers on the map once he officially went pro.
Best known for the spectacles he wore during each game to aid with his sight, Mikan was physically overpowered for his time. Standing at 6-foot-10 and weighing 245 pounds, George practically broke the game of basketball to the point the NCAA and NBA were forced to change their rules.
Mikan became extremely adept at goaltending the shots of his opponents, to the point where the move was outright banned simply because he made the game unfair for his competition. Only playing seven professional seasons between the NBL and NBA, George totaled five All-NBA First Team selections and four All-Star appearances between 1949 and 1954.
He led the league in points scored per game from his rookie season until his third season, averaging at least 27.4 points each year during that stretch. Mikan was a man amongst boys during his time, and it is no wonder only one player in Lakers history was able to register a higher PER than him.