Teams and leagues were often short-lived in pro basketball's early days. Mikan's first title came with the National Basketball League, his second with the Basketball Association of America. The rest were with the NBA, formed when the two league's merged in 1949.
Mikan coached the Lakers for part of the 1957-1958 season, and was commissioner of the American Basketball Association in 1967, introducing the 3-point line and the distinctive red, white and blue ball.
In recent years, Mikan spoke out against the small pensions given to those who played in the league before 1965. Terry Mikan said most of his father's awards and memorabilia had been sold. Mikan received a monthly pension check of US$1,700, his son said.
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