Larry Mikan is an American former basketball player who played college basketball for the University of Minnesota and appeared in 53 NBA games for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 1970–1971 season. The son of Hall of Fame center George Mikan, he was a prominent Minnesota high-school and college rebounder.
Background
Larry Mikan was born on April 8, 1948, in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota. He is the son of George Mikan, the Hall of Fame center who helped establish professional basketball in the United States, and the nephew of basketball player Ed Mikan.
Mikan attended Benilde High School in Saint Louis Park, now Benilde-St. Margaret's School. He played center and helped Benilde win two consecutive Catholic high-school championships, becoming one of Minnesota's notable schoolboy basketball players in the mid-1960s.
Education
Mikan continued to the University of Minnesota, where he played for the Golden Gophers from 1967 to 1970. The university's men's basketball program competes in the Big Ten Conference and has long served as Minnesota's principal intercollegiate basketball institution.
During his college career, Mikan finished with 1,007 points and 735 rebounds, averaging 14.0 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. In 1969–1970, his senior season, he collected 349 rebounds, an established Minnesota single-season record at the time, and led the team in rebounding with 14.5 per game.
Career
Mikan played three seasons of varsity basketball for the University of Minnesota from 1967 through 1970. He was a productive frontcourt player and rebounder, finishing his college career among the program's leading rebounders and 1,000-point scorers. His 349 rebounds in 1969–1970 made him Minnesota's season rebounding leader.
The Los Angeles Lakers selected Mikan in the fourth round of the 1970 NBA draft with the 64th overall pick. He subsequently joined the Cleveland Cavaliers, an expansion franchise that began NBA play in the 1970–1971 season. Wearing number 30 and playing forward, he appeared in 53 games, averaging 3.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game.
Mikan's professional career lasted one NBA season. His place in basketball history also reflects the continuation of the Mikan family tradition from his father George, one of the first dominant centers of professional basketball, to Larry's own college and NBA career.
Achievements
Mikan helped Benilde High School win two consecutive Catholic high-school basketball championships in the mid-1960s.
He finished his University of Minnesota career with 1,007 points and 735 rebounds, averaging 14.0 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
In 1969–1970, he recorded 349 rebounds for Minnesota, setting the school's single-season rebounding record at the time.
He was selected in the fourth round of the 1970 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers before playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Personality
Physical Characteristics:
He was listed at 6 feet 7 inches tall and 210 pounds during his professional basketball career.
Interests
Sport & Clubs
Basketball.
Connections
Mikan is the son of George Mikan, a Hall of Fame professional basketball player and pioneer of the early NBA, and the nephew of Ed Mikan, who also played professional basketball. His family connections placed his college and professional career within one of American basketball's best-known athletic families.
Father:
George Mikan
Hall of Fame professional basketball player and pioneer of the early NBA.
Uncle:
Ed Mikan
Professional basketball player and brother of George Mikan.
References
Larry Mikan — NBA.com player profile
Documents Mikan's birth date, University of Minnesota background, 1970 draft selection, physical profile, and NBA statistics.
