NBA Champions ·
1953 Minneapolis Lakers
Minneapolis won the 1953 NBA title by beating the New York Knicks four games to one, the second of three straight championships. George Mikan led the team at 20.6 points and pulled down more than 14 rebounds a game. The Knicks reached the Finals three years running in this stretch and lost every time, the last two to the Lakers.
The Lakers went 48-22 and finished first in the Western Division. Kundla's team again leaned on the biggest frontcourt in basketball and the best defense in the league.
Mikan scored 20.6 and grabbed 14.4 rebounds a game. Mikkelsen added 15.0, Pollard 13.0, and Slater Martin, now an All-Star, ran the offense at 10.6. Pep Saul and Bob Harrison took the bulk of the guard minutes.
Minneapolis survived a tough five-game series with Fort Wayne in the Western finals, then handled the Knicks four games to one for the title.
New York lost in the Finals in 1951, 1952, and 1953, the Lakers handing them the last two. The Knicks would not reach the Finals again until 1970.
Championship roster
Featured in Ring Holders Club
| Player | Role | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| George Mikan | C | 92 |
| Jim Pollard | SF | 84 |
| Slater Martin | PG | 79 |
| Vern Mikkelsen | PF | 81 |
| Dick Sobers | SG | 75 |
| Whitey Skoog | 6th man | 71 |
| John Kundla | Coach | 87 |
Ratings are year-specific curated estimates for Ring Holders Club, not official NBA stats.
Rest of the roster
| Player | Pos |
|---|---|
| Pep Saul | G |
| Bob Harrison | G |
| Jim Holstein | F |
| Lew Hitch | F |
| Dick Schnittker | F |