Vern Mikkelsen

Vern Mikkelsen

Mikkelsen, circa 1950s
Personal information
Born	(1928-10-21)October 21, 1928 Parlier, California, U.S.
Died	November 21, 2013(2013-11-21) (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
Selected by the Minneapolis Lakers
Playing career	1949–1959
Position	Power forward
Number	19
Career history
As player:
1949–1959	Minneapolis Lakers
As coach:
1968–1969	Minnesota Pipers
Career highlights and awards
4× NBA champion (1950, 1952–1954) 6× NBA All-Star (1951–1953, 1955–1957) 4× All-NBA Second Team (1951–1953, 1955) No. 19 honored by Los Angeles Lakers
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.com
Basketball Hall of Fame as player
College Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 2006

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.^[1] Also an ironman, he played in 699 out of a possible 704 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^[2] 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.