Vern Mikkelsen

Vern Mikkelsen
Name	Vern Mikkelsen
Birth date	9 June 1928
Birth place	Parnell, Iowa
Death date	21 November 2013
Death place	Bloomington, Minnesota
Nationality	United States
Height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Weight	225 lb (102 kg)
College	Hamline University
Career start	1949
Career end	1960
Teams	Minneapolis Lakers
Career position	Forward / Center
Hof player	1994

Vern Mikkelsen was an American professional basketball player, coach, and administrator renowned for his role with the Minneapolis Lakers during the early years of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A physical rebounder and defensive presence, he helped the Lakers win multiple championships and was later inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Mikkelsen's career bridged collegiate success at Hamline University and civic leadership in Minnesota.

Early life and education

Born in Parnell, Iowa, Mikkelsen was raised in rural Minnesota and attended Montevideo High School before enrolling at Hamline University, a private liberal arts college in St. Paul, Minnesota. His upbringing in the Midwest paralleled contemporaries from the region such as John Kundla and other figures tied to the Minneapolis basketball community. During this period Mikkelsen interacted with athletes and coaches who later became part of teams and organizations like the Minneapolis Lakers, the Chicago Stags, and the Kansas Jayhawks coaching networks.

College and amateur basketball

At Hamline University, Mikkelsen starred for the Hamline Pipers under collegiate competition that included schools like St. Thomas (Minnesota), Gustavus Adolphus College, and Carleton College. He played in amateur circuits and tournaments that featured players who would go on to join franchises such as the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Fort Wayne Pistons. His performance attracted attention from professional scouts connected to the Basketball Association of America and later the unified NBA.

Professional career

Drafted and signed by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1949, Mikkelsen joined teammates including George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Slater Martin, and coaches like John Kundla. He contributed to Lakers championship teams that competed for titles against clubs such as the Syracuse Nationals, Rochester Royals, Indianapolis Olympians, and Anderson Packers. Across the 1950s Mikkelsen faced opponents from franchises like the Boston Celtics with Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman, the Fort Wayne Pistons with Andy Phillip, and the New York Knicks with Harry Gallatin. His tenure overlapped with league developments involving figures such as Maurice Podoloff, Danny Biasone, and executives from the NBA Board of Governors. Mikkelsen's playing career paralleled the rise of later stars like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and contemporaries including Paul Arizin, Bob Pettit, and Elgin Baylor as the league expanded into cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago.

Playing style and legacy

Mikkelsen was noted for physical defense, rebounding, and tenacity in the paint, traits shared with peers like Dolph Schayes and Neil Johnston. Analysts compared his impact to defensive specialists and pioneers who influenced strategy adopted by coaches such as Red Auerbach, Alex Hannum, and Phil Jackson decades later. His style informed discussions in publications and broadcasts involving journalists and commentators from outlets connected to teams like the Minneapolis Lakers, Boston Celtics, and St. Louis Hawks. Posthumous assessments placed him among early franchise legends alongside George Mikan and contributors to the Lakers' historical lineage that extends to the Los Angeles Lakers era with stars like Jerry West and Kobe Bryant.

Coaching and post-playing career

After retiring as a player, Mikkelsen transitioned to coaching and management roles within organizations including the Lakers front office and Minnesota-area athletic programs linked to institutions such as Hamline University and regional high schools. He served in administrative capacities that connected him with community leaders, civic institutions in Hennepin County, and sports initiatives tied to amateur organizations and the National Basketball Retired Players Association. His post-playing life intersected with former teammates and coaches like Slater Martin, Jim Pollard, John Kundla, and later NBA administrators who shaped pension and alumni programs.

Personal life and honors

Mikkelsen lived in Minnesota after his career, active in civic and veterans' communities alongside contemporaries honored by institutions such as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame, and various collegiate halls of fame. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994 and recognized by the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame and regional honors celebrating figures like George Mikan and John Kundla. Mikkelsen's legacy remains cited in historical treatments of early professional basketball alongside names such as Red Holzman, Nat Holman, Joe Lapchick, Wataru Misaka, and Ernie Vandeweghe.

Category:1928 births Category:2013 deaths Category:Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees Category:Minneapolis Lakers players Category:Hamline Pipers men's basketball players Category:Basketball players from Minnesota