Vern Mikkelsen
Mikkelsen, circa 1950s | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 21, 1928 Parlier, California, U.S. |
| Died | November 21, 2013 (aged 85) Wayzata, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Askov (Askov, Minnesota) |
| College | Hamline (1945–1949) |
| BAA draft | 1949: territorial pick |
| Drafted by | Minneapolis Lakers |
| Playing career | 1949–1959 |
| Position | Power forward |
| Number | 19 |
| Career history | |
| As a player: | |
| 1949–1959 | Minneapolis Lakers |
| As a coach: | |
| 1968–1969 | Minnesota Pipers |
| Career highlights | |
| |
| Career statistics | |
| Points | 10,063 (14.4 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 5,940 (9.4 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,515 (2.2 apg) |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Basketball Hall of Fame | |
| Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame | |
Arild Verner Agerskov Mikkelsen (October 21, 1928 – November 21, 2013) was an American professional basketball player. One of the National Basketball Association's first power forwards in the 1950s, he was known for his tenacious defense and durability, playing 699 out of a possible 704 games during his career. He was a six-time All-Star and four-time Second Team All-Pro, and was inducted into the NAIA Basketball Hall of Fame and the sport's Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.
Along with fellow Hall of Famers George Mikan and Slater Martin he was a key part of four championships with the Minneapolis Lakers, today's Los Angeles Lakers.
Mikkelsen was also an All-American in college, and earned a master's degree from the University of Minnesota.