The Forgotten Superstar - George Mikan

[stan1981]

^ props. What people forget is that 50 years ago players didn't have lucrative contracts, role models, competent coaches, personal trainers, access to advanced medicine, etc. Most of today's stars would be out of sports after the first major injury as well

[azuresou1]

George Mikan would be probably as good as Aaron Gray is today. That is to say, pretty ****ing bad.

I have the utmost respect for what Mikan did for the sport of basketball, which probably would not exist today as it does were it not for him. That being said, it's pretty clear to see that as a player he really is not that good relative to all the people who have come after.

What comes around gos around.

In 50 yrs this exact post will be written and Mikan will be replaced with Kobe or LBJ or Shaq.

We dont say that CP3 is a horrible player because he couldnt play in the 50s-60s because he cant dribble correctly according to there rules. You wish to fault Wirterman for saying that the apex of the NBA was in the past but then say that apex of the NBA is today and that the future players will be inferior. If your saying the same thing then your as big a hypocrite.

What will future generations say about current players?

1. they didnt have anti- gravity shoes?
2. They played on a short 10 ft rim?
3. They never had to play back to backs in Sydney and LA?
4. They took HGH?
5. They only played 82 games?

Mikan not only played before there were team jets he played before there were jet aircraft.

Judge the man by what he accomplished in his era. We arent judgeing todays players against the future so we shouldnt judge the past vs the present.

5MVPs and 5 titles is pretty impressive regardless of era.

I have been to LA, Chicago and Dallas. You can walk up and down the streets of these cities with pictures of James Worthy, Steve Kerr and Tony Dorsett and ask people with Lakers, Bulls and and Cowboys jerseys and you wont get 2 correct answers in 10. The big exception of course is Yankee fans. They can tell you the pitch count for Reggie Jacksons 3 HRs in the Word Series.

If in the future they play on 12 foot rims while playing more than 82 games including back to backs from Sydney to LA, then yes, they will be better basketball players.

[singlepurposeac]

As said above, if the future brings better players, good. They'll be better, it's not like anyone is taking away the historical importance of Mikan. But anyway, your prediction has already failed Warspite. It's been about 50 years since Wilt and Russell, and they are remembered very favourably. There are on the other hand cogent reasons why Mikan is not, reasons that have been explained to you here. Get over it.