Invariably playing with thick, round spectacles, George Mikan is seen as one of the pioneers of professional basketball. He won seven BAA and NBA championships, an All-Star MVP trophy, three scoring titles and was a member of the first four NBA All-Star and the first six All-BAA and All-NBA Teams. Mikan was declared the greatest player of the first half of the century by The Associated Press and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1959. He became so dominant that the NBA had to change its rules of play in order to reduce his influence, such as widening the lane from six to twelve feet ("The Mikan Rule"). Before the start of the 1947-1948 NBL season, the team was pulled out of the league and the players of were equally distributed among the 11 remaining NBL franchises. With a stroke of good luck, the Minneapolis Lakers landed Mikan. In the 1947-1948 NBL season, Mikan donned his trademark number 99 Minneapolis Lakers jersey for the first time. Powered by his strong play, the Lakers dominated the Western Division and defeated the Rochester Royals in a four-game 1948 NBL Final. We believe that the victorious players on this Championship team were not given rings, as we have never seen or heard of one, but instead a different keepsake, this camera. It is originally sourced from the Mikan family. This “Bell and Howell” camera with commemorative case was presented to Mikan at the 1948 World Pro Basketball Tournament and has stayed with the Mikan family ever since, until brought to us by our consignor. On the front is “GEORGE MIKAN BASKETBALL” in gold lettering. At the center is a small, gold globe that is slightly raised and has “1948 CHAMPION AWARD.” It is in EX overall condition and is accompanied by a hand-written and hand-signed note by Patrick Mikan, George’s son.