june june nicknamed basketball american professional basketball player national_basketball_association nba invariably playing thick round pounds seen pioneers professional basketball game called big men prolific shot blocking talent shoot smaller defenders hook shot result namesake successful playing career winning seven nba championships star mvp trophy scoring titles member games nba teams dominant caused rule changes nba introduction rule widening foul lane known rule creation shot clock playing career founders serving commissioner league vital forming later years involved long standing legal battle nba fighting increase players retired league lucrative died long battle diabetes feats inducted 25th 35th nba anniversary teams elected nba april statue shooting trademark hook shot entrance early years born american croatian descent boy shattered knees badly kept bed year half attended originally wanted priest moved home finish destined athlete entered chicago stood weighed pounds moved frame wore thick glasses near met year old rookie basketball coach saw potential bright intelligent clumsy shy freshman perspective thoughts revolutionary time believed tall players awkward play basketball following months transformed confident aggressive player took pride height ashamed worked learned hook shots accurately hand routine later known addition punch speed bag dancing lessons jump rope complete athlete ncaa college games dominated peers intimidated opponents size strength offense hook shot soon established reputation hardest players league playing injuries opposing centers hard addition surprised basketball world unique ability jumping high ball away pass today basketball touching ball reaches violation time legal people thought impossible reach high set zone defense men key guarded basket later recalled days team took shot tap consequence ncaa later nba outlawed opposing centers success seven named year twice american times leading title prestigious ncaa tournament time led nation scoring points game won named valuable player scoring points games including points win rhode_island score entire rhode_island team professional playing career chicago american gears end college season signed predecessor modern nba played games end season scoring points game rookie led gears championship elected valuable player scoring points games voted start season president owner team pulled team league white planned create team league called owned teams arenas league folded month players white teams equally distributed remaining franchises consequence team chance landing ended playing coach season led league scoring points player score points season named league mvp won title following year franchises jumped fledgling led new league scoring set single season scoring record defeated finals merged form nba new league started inaugural nba season featuring teams dominant averaging points game assists game taking scoring title indianapolis player break point barrier year comfortably leading team impressive record playoffs team played nba finals game beat syracuse home court reserve guard hit foot minneapolis point win team split games game won won nba championship scored points game playoffs nba season dominant scoring career best points game regular season taking scoring crown assists game year nba introduced new rebounds category stood rebounds game rpg second rpg syracuse year participated notorious nba games played played took lead afraid mount comeback got ball passed ball attempt score basket shot clock invented force offense score stayed lowest scoring nba game time game important factor development shot clock introduced years later scored points scoring team points setting nba time record post season fractured leg western division finals hardly able series long won decades later recalled leg taped plate despite effectively court foot said averaged odd points game nba season nba decided widen foul lane basket feet feet players stay lane seconds time forced big men like post double distance main proponent rule coach regarded nemesis dubbed rule scored impressive points game reduction points game previous season field goal percentage sank pulled rebounds game asserting logged assists game truly dominating game season scored personal best points double overtime victory rochester time second best performance league history point score output doubled teammates output game totaled points nba star game strong performance points rebounds west loss later season reached pitted qualified finals series nba history team play home court games minneapolis auditorium booked madison square garden occupied instead played damp lit double teamed unable assert credit games split true home game game auditorium won edged winning nba title earning split team nba season averaged points career high rebounds game highest league assists game nba star game dominant points rebounds winning game defeated nba season year old slowly declined averaging points rebounds assists game leadership won nba title nba finals making straight championship fifth years time lost fractured leg nba perspective dynasty convincingly surpassed title end season announced retirement later said family growing decided felt time started professional world outside basketball injuries factor sustained broken bones career having play injuries playoffs unable reach middle nba season returned lineup played games long absence affected play averaged points rebounds assists lost round playoffs end season retired good points record time nba player score points career inducted inaugural basketball hall fame class declared greatest player half century associated_press post playing career republican candidate united_states congress minnesota 3rd congressional district challenged incumbent representative closely fought race featured high voter turnout despite reelection incumbent republican president inexperienced lost close margin received votes returning legal profession frustrated hoping influx work months assignments leaving financial difficulties forced cash life insurance problems arose professional sports career nba season coach general manager persuaded coach failure endured record stepped returned coaching duties ended record record worst seasons history failure concentrated law career raising family children successfully specializing corporate real estate law buying buildings minneapolis returned professional basketball commissioner rival league nba order lure basketball fans league invented league characteristic red white blue ball thought patriotic better suited crowd pleasing brown nba ball instituted point line resigned mid-1980s headed task force goal returning professional basketball minneapolis decades moved los_angeles departed bid successful leading inception new franchise nba season owner chairman board professional roller hockey team based chicago illinois played roller franchise folded second season later years suffered diabetes failing eventually illness caused right leg knee medical insurance cut soon found severe financial difficulties fought long protracted legal battle nba protesting month players retired start called big money era according battle kept going hoped alive new collective agreement finally generation condition worsened legacy lauded pioneer basketball original center scored points average game retired time leading scorer averaged rebounds assists nba games testament fierce playing style led league times personal won seven nba championships star mvp trophy scoring titles member games nba teams declared greatest player half century time american team chosen poll inducted basketball hall fame 25th 35th nba anniversary teams elected nba impact game reflected today staple exercise big men basketball superstar center member appeared sports_illustrated cover november calling legends compared april statue shooting trademark hook shot entrance addition banner commemorates fellow honored statue appearance mural hometown rule changes dominant nba change rules play order reduce influence widening lane feet rule played role introduction shot clock ncaa dominating play basket led defensive nba future dominated tall powerful players official directly responsible point line later adopted nba existence minnesota multi colored ball lives money ball nba star point contest personal life married girlfriend remained wife years died fathered children sons larry terry patrick michael daughters life universally seen gentle giant tough relentless court friendly private life older brother basketball player death died arizona june complications diabetes son terry reported father undergone times week hours day years interred minneapolis death widely basketball world brought media attention financial struggles early era nba players felt current players big money generation rally larger predecessors upcoming labor negotiations paid funeral said number game eastern conference finals heat moment silence honor remarked carried nba early days single league credible popular san spurs dedicated
George Mikan