It’s a bit of an odd award, to be sure. Since the 1985-86 season, the NBA has handed out the Most Improved Player Award, now known as the George Mikan Trophy. It’s designed to reward a player ...

The Lakers retire the No. 99 jersey of 'Mr. Basketball' George Mikan in a pregame ceremony at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

For seven seasons, George Mikan redefined the game of basketball as a center, etching his name in the record books as a four-time All-Star and five-time NBA champion with the then-Minneapolis and ...