Lakers retiring George Mikan's jersey

The Los Angeles Lakers are retiring George Mikan's No. 99 jersey on Oct. 30 against the Denver Nuggets, the team announced Wednesday.

Mikan played seven seasons for the then-Minneapolis Lakers, leading the club to their first five titles in franchise history. The Hall of Famer earned six All-NBA first-team selections, four All-Star nods, three scoring titles, and one MVP award during his illustrious career.

Mikan averaged 23.1 points, 13.4 boards, and 2.8 assists over 439 appearances with the Lakers. He remains the organization's all-time single-season leader in win shares (23.4) and ranks seventh in total free-throw attempts (3,924).

Mikan revolutionized the game with his two-way play. His ability to score with either hand using the hook shot resulted in the famous Mikan Drill. He also popularized the underhanded free-throw shooting technique.

Before turning pro, Mikan starred at the collegiate level for DePaul, where he was a three-time consensus All-American first-team selection.

The 6-foot-10 center was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996 and selected to the Association's 75th Anniversary Team earlier this year.