DePaul: NBA Legend George Mikan Passes At Age 80

Legend Mikan Passes On: NBA legend and Hall of Famer George Mikan passed away at the age of 80 due to complications from diabetes. Mikan, a 1946 graduate of DePaul, was the fledgling league’s first true big man superstar and was league scoring champion in each of his first six pro seasons. A four-time All-Star, Mikan led the Minneapolis Lakers to five NBA titles. A three-time All-American at DePaul, Mikan led the Blue Demons to an 87-11 record, and was the target of a new college rule: goaltending. Mikan and a young Ray Meyer led DePaul to the NIT Championship in 1945, where Mikan set a school record 53 points in the semifinals against Rhode Island. A charter member of the NBA Hall of Fame in 1959, he was honored as one of the top 50 players in NBA history in 1996. [6/02/05] Update: George Mikan’s family has accepted the Miami Heat’s Shaquille O’Neal’s offer to pay for all funeral expenses. O’Neal expressed gratitude at getting to know and speak with Mikan several times over the past few seasons. [6/03/05]