1948-49 – The arrival of the Mikan era
The BAA League had the best arenas in the largest cities, but the NBL, which
drew teams from smaller Midwest cities, had the best players. However, this
changed when the NBL's four best teams(Fort Wayne, Rochester, Indianapolis and
Minneapolis) decided to join the BAA. Thus, the best arenas in the bigger cities
could host the best players in the presence of media.
The Minneapolis team brought into the BAA the man who would become a
basketball legend, George Mikan. At his height and weight, Mikan revolutionized
the basketball and with his hook shots earned him the first of three scoring
titles (averaging 28.3 ppg per game). The revitalized 12-team league resumed a
60-game schedule. Washington ruling first in the East and Rochester and
Minneapolis in the West. Lakers led by Mikan and Washington met in the Finals
Playoffs. In six games, Lakers proved to be better.
Mikan's arrival signaled many changes. There came the advent of the big
player and the rise of the league's first dynasty, which was to appear in
Minneapolis. Horace McKinney, who had the task of guarding Mikan, admitted that
even Mikan's broken hand, wrapped around in a heavy cast, did not stop him from
giving an excellent performence.
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