A video exploring the fall of the Minneapolis Lakers after George Mikan left the team, and how the franchise almost folded.
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#nba #lakers #losangeles #minnesota
Underrated basketball channel. You should be in the same tier as Andy Hoops.
I love Andy!
Andy Hoops
Same I love Andy Hoops
No 1 can imagine Los Angeles without the Lakers now lol
A great thing about George Mikan is that he was a winner both on and off the basketball court. After retiring from playing hoops, he eventually succeeded as a lawyer in corporate and real estate law, purchasing and renovating buildings in Minneapolis. George was also the first-ever commissioner of the ABA, serving from 1967-1969. And finally, he successfully played a role in returning the NBA to Minneapolis, with the creation of the Minnesota Timberwolves. George Mikan gave his heart and soul to the game of basketball, and it was great to see the sport give back to him in return.
And the LA Lakers finally retired his number!
@danbratten3103 there's been an unwritten NBA rule for 70 years that no team would issue his 99. Only the Celtics ignore the rule. They've issued the number 5 times since Mikan's retirement.
@@PoliticusRex632 I didn't know that. Thank you for letting me know. I just didn't like the fact that the Lakers claimed the Minneapolis championships without his jersey number officially and publicly retired like the rest of the Laker greats.
@danbratten3103 Mikan at one point refused having his number retired by the Lakers unless they retired Pollard, Mikkelsen and Martin's as well.
@@PoliticusRex632 I didn't know that either. Just when I think I already really respect a guy, I learn more things about him and respect him even more. Thank you 👍🏻
There is a forgotten story on why Minneapolis's NBA team was called the Lakers. During WW2, there were these large ships going up and down the St. Lawrence Seaway, carrying agricultural products. These huge ships were known as Lakers.
There’s actually two types of these ships: Lakers obviously stick to the Great Lakes; while Salties are oceangoing vessels.
Tnx for the trivia 🎉🙏
Fascinating. I grew up a Lakers fan in the 60s, but didn’t know the backstory of their move. Elgin Baylor was my favorite player. Before Dr. J his moves were gravity defying. Thanks for sharing
"And the Minnesota Lakers moved to Los Angeles, where there are no lakes"-Baseketball
I had a couple of friends in college who were from Minnesota. I was one of them if it was true that Minnesota had 10,000 lakes. She said, "No, it's actually closer to 27,000." Definitely not the answer I was expecting.
As it would turn out, the Minneapolis Lakers were far from being the only franchise to relocate and, in some cases, even change the name of the team. The only two teams from that era that have remained in their original locations from the 1946-47 season are the Boston Celtics and the NY Knicks. There's lots of interesting historical information on the origins of many of the franchises who have relocated, such as the ones mentioned in the video, the St.Louis Hawks, the Ft. Wayne Pistons, and the Syracuse Nationals.
Once upon a time, LA was a booming town so it was a great move out west. Being born and raised in LA, We have been blessed with this storied franchise, thanks Twin Cities!
That was an absolutely great story. It’s too bad the Lakers took the name with them to LA. Although the name sticks out like a sore thumb, it’s probably one of the most iconic names for a team to go along with the Yankees and the Cowboys, so they won’t be dropping it anytime soon if at all.
Thank you for posting this. I'm a 76ers fan but I totally appreciate the NBA history.
I heard about the near plane crash, but never heard about the Oujia Board story.
because the same reasons the rams returned to LA ,money also they changed the key to the lane because of Miken
The Lakers still should've changed their name immediately after leaving Minnesota; something film related. Team names should fit in to the cities that they are located in.
I'm a Celtics fan and this video almost won me over
One of the best opening sequences IMHO.
I like to say that our state helped contribute to LA’s current tie in NBA Championships! Go Timberwolves!
Thx btw
Actually playing games on neutral courts were quite common in the NBA until the early 70s. There were many doubleheaders played in different NBA cities. With two different matchups between four teams. The second game of the doubleheader always featured the home team. Also, single games were played on neutral courts in non-NBA cities. Don’t forget that Wilt Chamberlain scored his 100 points in one game in Hershey Pennsylvania.
Great video! Love watching ur content
Love these vids
man I have watched tons of docs, sports, history, you name it... this was a 10! thank you! you did an amazing job on this, I had never heard the Ouija board and plane story and it was riveting!
Thank you!
This is sucha a great video man. Basketball junkie. first time in years were i truly felt I was being educated. Cheers
great video, cant wait to see what all you have in store for me
Great video! I didn't realize the Lakers almost got Bill Russell. I saw in a George Mikan video that Bill Russell said he met George Mikan whilenhe was in high school. Mikan told Russell that Russell would go to college and then come play for the Lakers. It almost came true. Russell always highly respected Mikan from that point on.
Absolutely wonderful video!!!
You got me, wonderful content...the rest is not just history but amazing emotions! 💜💛
Even though I know nothing about the NBA or basketball, I enjoy these videos.
As of yesterday it’s 17.5 champions
I subscribed after I saw the Randy Smith dunk that starts the montage intro. Always a Buffalo Brave.
Great video. Glad you didn't use an AI to narrate this.
Just happened to stumble on this. I am very good friends with John Castellani’s great nephew, Rick. Their family are super athletes. Rick and his brother, Jim both played college baseball. Jim’s son was recently being looked at by some scouts (baseball)
WATCH Very good video, I'm usually very critical Great work man
Nice intro 🔥
I gotta know where you heard the story about Sid Hartman inventing tanking. I need to know more about this.
nicely researched
Good video. Bob Short is also the guy that moved the Washington Senators baseball team to Dallas to become the Texas Rangers.
Worst owner in Washington, DC sports history, ran the team into the ground, jacked up ticket prices which cost DC 34 years without Major League Baseball.
Definitely a nice intro. Love the Castlevania. Also I would like to know why did they change the uniform from the yellow and the sky blue that they wore in Minneapolis when they moved to LA. They had the nice white and light blue that became famous when Kobe started wearing it sometimes during Laker games. That was a beautiful jersey by the way, representing the Minneapolis Lakers. And of course Jack Kent cook because he wanted the hockey team. He took the colors of the Los Angeles Kings. The purple and the gold became their traditional jersey after that.
The early story of the greatest basketball franchise of all time.
Interesting you had a photo of Bud Grant as coach of the Vikings, but didn't mention he also played for the Minneapolis Lakers.
I actually did record that fact but there was some weird audio glitch that ruined my take!
Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Not that I'm complaining but Uncle Hayes why do you play the music from Castlevania III in your video. I'm curious 🙂
Aloha Hays ! Great breakdown. I just did a Show on the Lakers and one on Abe Saperstein where I show his autograph. I've also shown my Dads programs from that first ever game on the west coast. I was just talking about Tom Hawkins and Jim Krebs. I did not know Krebs was such a character. I like how Hot Rod turned down the offer to be the first white Globetrotter. Great channel Hays
Awesome!
Hey, Uncle Hays. Cool video! I visited Echo Park before. Cool place and the lake is nice. I didn't know the Lakers had its origins as Detroit Gems. It amazed me how one game had only six attendees. Wow. I heard of George Mikan but didn't know much about his teammates, so it was great learning about them (and learning more about Mikan). I didn't know of the Lakers-Celtics deal. I couldn't picture Russell as a Laker. Wow! I didn't hear of Ouija board story or of Krebs before. I can't imagine how frightening the flight was. I'm glad the plane landed safely. You gave a great overview of the struggles the Lakers had and their history. I learned a lot. I like learning about NBA history and hadn't learned much about its early decades, so I enjoy videos like yours. Kudos. :]
Thank you!
@@unclehays750 Anytime :) Keep up the awesome work! :) Take care.
Can you do how good was the 70s Denver Nuggets
Detroit Gems
The Detroit Gems was one of the greatest teams. The problem was the coaching and management
bob short also owned Washington senators/Texas rangers baseball team.
Lakers good name la=Lakers
Do you have the full film of the Celtics vs Minneapolis Lakers?
Yeah, I just subbed 🏀 🏀
Appreciate it!
As a Minnesota fan it still hurts knowing that we could have been possibly the best sports franchise of all time.
That was 1960when Lakers left minneapollis who knows what will be in future in 50s was excellent team with mikan
The Lakers would not have become the great franchise had they stayed in Minneapolis. The video makes that pretty clear. The stupid politics of Minneapolis vs. St. Paul ruined the Lakers in Minneapolis and ruined the Northstars.
@@danbratten3103 yes los Angeles is big market they have rogin Baylor maybe if they stay two more seasons they would have west after mikan retirement small crowd in arena that s main reason
@master-kq3nw that's right People from St. Paul and it's suburbs didn't want to support to do with Minneapolis and it's suburbs. The video mentioned the Lakers getting no help from St. Paul. The same thing happened with the NHL Northstars. After 4 years of the Northstars playing in Bloomington, St. Paul got a pro hockey team in the rival league WHA. The Northstars attendance plummeted because St. Paul people went to watch the Saints hockey team instead. When the Saints folded, many St. Paul area people didn't come back to watch the Northstars. Attendance problems continued to plauge the Northstars and they eventually moved to Dallas. Also, attendance problems plagued the Twins in the 90's and they were almost contracted by MLB.
@@danbratten3103 yes no crowd no NBA team
Why was Los Angeles able to use the Lakers name?
Los Angeles Lakers not as ridiculous as the Utah Jazz. (but close).
Why was the Hearse there? Why?
If the Lakers had not move to L.A and stayed in Minneapolis ? No Wilt no Kareem no Shaq no LeBron because the main reason why they went to the Lakers was Los Angeles , without Hollywood this franchise would have been maybe good by not great like now L.A carried a lot the Lakers franchise
Was there any discussion about a name change when the franchise moved to L.A.? The Lakers along with the Utah Jazz have the most ill-fitting names in sports. At a minimum the franchise could have gone back to being the Gems or a variant of gem.
Now i know what a laker is.😊
Have you been to Minneapolis in the winter?
It is cold
Is this the same Bob Short who went on to buy the Washington Senators and move them to Texas where they became the Texas Rangers in MLB?
That Bobby Jones dunk on Bird. Wew!
13:40 Oh yeah, Mr. Krebs
it should los angeles hollywoods😅
At least the LA paid for five championships
Repent and trust in Jesus you will be saved I love yall and God bless
They left minneapollis beacuse small crowd in arena
Minneapolis: 5 time Champions. Los Angeles: 11 NBA Championships, (1) Mickey Mouse ring and (1) In Season Tournament. 😆 🤣 😂 😹