Vern mikkelsen dies, NBA Hall of Famer Vern Mikkelsen died Thursday night at age 85, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.
Mikkelsen, one of the game’s first true power forwards, played 10 seasons with the Minneapolis Lakers, scoring 10,063 points and winning four NBA titles. He also was a six-time NBA All-Star that was inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.
During his speech, he relayed a moment when Lakers coach John Kundla thought of drawing up a play for him. It was called “Askov,” named after Mikkelsen’s Minnesota hometown. During Mikkelsen’s day, power forwards were “unsung heroes.” Fast forward to the 2:15 mark to get to him talking about the play.
“Now Mik, you’re gonna pick here and then you go over here and pick over here,” Mikkelsen recalled Kundla saying. “Then go get the rebound.”
Mikkelsen also helped Hamline University to the 1949 NAIA title.
Word of his passing also brings to mind a false report that Mikkelsen had died four years earlier. Mikkelsen took that in stride and humorously brushed it off. Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse recounted the confusion, and how death turned into life.
Sadly Thursday, it happened the other way around. For real this time.
Mikkelsen, one of the game’s first true power forwards, played 10 seasons with the Minneapolis Lakers, scoring 10,063 points and winning four NBA titles. He also was a six-time NBA All-Star that was inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.
During his speech, he relayed a moment when Lakers coach John Kundla thought of drawing up a play for him. It was called “Askov,” named after Mikkelsen’s Minnesota hometown. During Mikkelsen’s day, power forwards were “unsung heroes.” Fast forward to the 2:15 mark to get to him talking about the play.
“Now Mik, you’re gonna pick here and then you go over here and pick over here,” Mikkelsen recalled Kundla saying. “Then go get the rebound.”
Mikkelsen also helped Hamline University to the 1949 NAIA title.
Word of his passing also brings to mind a false report that Mikkelsen had died four years earlier. Mikkelsen took that in stride and humorously brushed it off. Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse recounted the confusion, and how death turned into life.
Sadly Thursday, it happened the other way around. For real this time.
