# 1949–50 Minneapolis Lakers season

The 1949–50 Minneapolis Lakers season was the second season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Lakers repeated as NBA Champions, defeating the Syracuse Nationals in six games in the NBA Finals, making it (to date) the only franchise to win the championship in each of its first two NBA seasons.

## NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| T | – | Vern Mikkelsen | F/C | United States | Hamline |
| – | – | Bob Harrison | G | United States | Michigan |
| – | – | Paul Walther | F/G | United States | Tennessee |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Neutral | Div |
| x-Minneapolis Lakers | 51 | 17 | .750 | – | 30–1 | 18–16 | 3–0 | 16–8 |
| x-Rochester Royals | 51 | 17 | .750 | – | 33–1 | 17–16 | 1–0 | 15–9 |
| x-Fort Wayne Pistons | 40 | 28 | .588 | 11 | 28–6 | 12–22 | – | 14–10 |
| x-Chicago Stags | 40 | 28 | .588 | 11 | 18–6 | 14–21 | 8–1 | 11–13 |
| St. Louis Bombers | 26 | 42 | .382 | 25 | 17–14 | 7–26 | 2–2 | 4–20 |

### Record vs. opponents

1949–50 NBA records :
| Team | AND | BAL | BOS | CHI | DEN | FWP | IND | MIN | NYK | PHI | ROC | SHE | STL | SYR | TCB | WAS | WAT |
| Anderson | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–3 | 1–1 | 2–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–2 | 2–0 | 3–4 | 7–2 | 1–1 | 7–0 |
| Baltimore | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| Boston | 2–0 | 4–2 | — | 0–6 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Chicago | 1–1 | 5–1 | 6–0 | — | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Denver | 3–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 0–7 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–4 | 0–2 | 1–6 | 0–7 | 0–2 | 2–5 |
| Fort Wayne | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| Indianapolis | 5–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 7–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–2 | 1–1 | 2–7 | 4–3 | 1–1 | 5–2 |
| Minneapolis | 1–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | — | 5–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
| New York | 1–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–5 | — | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 |
| Philadelphia | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | — | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 |
| Rochester | 2–0 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | — | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
| Sheboygan | 2–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–3 | 0–2 | 2–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–6 | 3–4 | 2–0 | 4–3 |
| St. Louis | 0–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–6 | 1–1 |
| Syracuse | 4–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–1 | 2–0 | 7–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–1 | 1–1 | — | 6–1 | 1–1 | 6–1 |
| Tri-Cities | 2–7 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 7–0 | 0–2 | 3–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–3 | 0–2 | 1–6 | — | 1–1 | 4–3 |
| Washington | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 |
| Waterloo | 0–7 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–2 | 1–1 | 2–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–4 | 1–1 | 1–6 | 3–4 | 1–1 | — |

### Game log

| # | Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record |
| 1 | November 2 | at Philadelphia | 81–69 | Jim Pollard (30) | 1–0 |
| 2 | November 5 | at Baltimore | 92–77 | George Mikan (28) | 2–0 |
| 3 | November 8 | at Washington | 68–66 | Jim Pollard (21) | 3–0 |
| 4 | November 10 | at Boston | 98–84 | George Mikan (37) | 4–0 |
| 5 | November 12 | at Chicago | 79–86 | George Mikan (30) | 4–1 |
| 6 | November 16 | St. Louis | 94–71 | Herm Schaefer (20) | 5–1 |
| 7 | November 17 | at St. Louis | 65–78 | George Mikan (17) | 5–2 |
| 8 | November 19 | at Anderson | 80–83 | George Mikan (34) | 5–3 |
| 9 | November 20 | Indianapolis | 121–95 | George Mikan (29) | 6–3 |
| 10 | November 23 | Baltimore | 84–71 | George Mikan (28) | 7–3 |
| 11 | November 25 | at Denver | 101–81 | George Mikan (29) | 8–3 |
| 12 | November 27 | Chicago | 82–96 | George Mikan (34) | 8–4 |
| 13 | November 30 | New York | 102–92 | George Mikan (28) | 9–4 |
| 14 | December 1 | at Indianapolis | 68–86 | George Mikan (33) | 9–5 |
| 15 | December 3 | at Chicago | 91–80 | George Mikan (34) | 10–5 |
| 16 | December 4 | Rochester | 95–80 | George Mikan (27) | 11–5 |
| 17 | December 7 | Washington | 93–76 | George Mikan (35) | 12–5 |
| 18 | December 8 | at Fort Wayne | 66–87 | George Mikan (27) | 12–6 |
| 19 | December 10 | vs Denver | 89–76 | George Mikan (31) | 13–6 |
| 20 | December 11 | Philadelphia | 90–81 | George Mikan (28) | 14–6 |
| 21 | December 14 | at New York | 84–94 | George Mikan (38) | 14–7 |
| 22 | December 15 | at Baltimore | 68–87 | George Mikan (34) | 14–8 |
| 23 | December 18 | Boston | 77–72 | George Mikan (24) | 15–8 |
| 24 | December 20 | at Rochester | 62–87 | George Mikan (26) | 15–9 |
| 25 | December 21 | at Washington | 75–61 | George Mikan (21) | 16–9 |
| 26 | December 22 | at Boston | 69–87 | George Mikan (21) | 16–10 |
| 27 | December 25 | Fort Wayne | 72–58 | George Mikan (22) | 17–10 |
| 28 | December 26 | at Tri-Cities | 78–76 | George Mikan (22) | 18–10 |
| 29 | December 28 | Baltimore | 88–77 | Mikan, Pollard (24) | 19–10 |
| 30 | December 31 | at Waterloo | 86–68 | George Mikan (35) | 20–10 |
| 31 | January 1 | Anderson | 87–75 | George Mikan (38) | 21–10 |
| 32 | January 4 | Fort Wayne | 91–75 | George Mikan (22) | 22–10 |
| 33 | January 5 | at Sheboygan | 82–85 | George Mikan (42) | 22–11 |
| 34 | January 8 | Boston | 85–80 (OT) | George Mikan (30) | 23–11 |
| 35 | January 11 | Syracuse | 98–88 | George Mikan (27) | 24–11 |
| 36 | January 12 | at St. Louis | 89–73 | Vern Mikkelsen (31) | 25–11 |
| 37 | January 14 | at Rochester | 77–83 | George Mikan (51) | 25–12 |
| 38 | January 15 | Rochester | 85–73 | George Mikan (25) | 26–12 |
| 39 | January 17 | at Boston | 105–79 | George Mikan (22) | 27–12 |
| 40 | January 18 | at Washington | 76–68 | George Mikan (23) | 28–12 |
| 41 | January 19 | at New York | 94–83 | George Mikan (31) | 29–12 |
| 42 | January 20 | at Philadelphia | 89–90 | George Mikan (34) | 29–13 |
| 43 | January 22 | Chicago | 103–75 | George Mikan (28) | 30–13 |
| 44 | January 24 | at Chicago | 80–68 | George Mikan (40) | 31–13 |
| 45 | January 25 | St. Louis | 85–78 | George Mikan (23) | 32–13 |
| 46 | January 29 | Washington | 88–60 | George Mikan (31) | 33–13 |
| 47 | February 1 | New York | 96–81 | George Mikan (35) | 34–13 |
| 48 | February 2 | at Fort Wayne | 79–78 | Vern Mikkelsen (21) | 35–13 |
| 49 | February 5 | Philadelphia | 100–67 | George Mikan (23) | 36–13 |
| 50 | February 9 | Washington | 71–59 | Mikan, Mikkelsen (15) | 37–13 |
| 51 | February 12 | Boston | 88–70 | Jim Pollard (29) | 38–13 |
| 52 | February 15 | Rochester | 92–70 | George Mikan (34) | 39–13 |
| 53 | February 16 | at St. Louis | 72–71 | Jim Pollard (25) | 40–13 |
| 54 | February 17 | Waterloo | 80–74 | Vern Mikkelsen (20) | 41–13 |
| 55 | February 19 | Chicago | 96–83 | George Mikan (33) | 42–13 |
| 56 | February 22 | St. Louis | 100–57 | George Mikan (28) | 43–13 |
| 57 | February 25 | at Rochester | 64–66 | George Mikan (39) | 43–14 |
| 58 | February 26 | Tri-Cities | 80–66 | George Mikan (30) | 44–14 |
| 59 | February 28 | Fort Wayne | 71–65 | Mikan, Mikkelsen (19) | 45–14 |
| 60 | March 2 | at Baltimore | 88–68 | George Mikan (24) | 46–14 |
| 61 | March 3 | at Philadelphia | 61–66 | George Mikan (21) | 46–15 |
| 62 | March 4 | at New York | 84–75 | Mikan, Pollard (23) | 47–15 |
| 63 | March 5 | at Syracuse | 75–84 | George Mikan (29) | 47–16 |
| 64 | March 7 | Sheboygan | 90–73 | Vern Mikkelsen (19) | 48–16 |
| 65 | March 8 | Philadelphia | 68–65 | George Mikan (34) | 49–16 |
| 66 | March 12 | New York | 87–66 | George Mikan (32) | 50–16 |
| 67 | March 15 | Baltimore | 96–62 | George Mikan (34) | 51–16 |
| 68 | March 19 | at Fort Wayne | 67–69 | George Mikan (30) | 51–17 |

## Playoffs

1950 playoff game log :
Division Tiebreaker (finishes as Central's #1 seed)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh assistsLocationRecord
1
March 21
@ Rochester
W 78–76
George Mikan (35)
Herm Schaefer (7)
Edgerton Park Arena
1–0 :
Division Semifinals: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh assistsLocationSeries
1
March 22
Chicago
W 85–75
George Mikan (30)
George Mikan (3)
Minneapolis Auditorium
1–0
2
March 25
@ Chicago
W 75–67
George Mikan (34)
Chicago Stadium
2–0 :
Division Finals: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh assistsLocationSeries
1
March 27
Fort Wayne
W 93–79
George Mikan (24)
George Mikan (4)
Minneapolis Auditorium
1–0
2
March 28
@ Fort Wayne
W 89–82
George Mikan (37)
North Side High School Gym
2–0 :
NBA Semifinals: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 5
Anderson
W 75–50
George Mikan (26)
Jim Pollard (5)
Minneapolis Auditorium
1–0
2
April 6
@ Anderson
W 90–71
George Mikan (32)
Anderson High School Wigwam
2–0 :
NBA Finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 8
@ Syracuse
W 68–66
George Mikan (37)
State Fair Coliseum 7,552
1–0
2
April 9
@ Syracuse
L 85–91
George Mikan (32)
State Fair Coliseum 8,280
1–1
3
April 14
Syracuse
W 91–77
George Mikan (28)
George Mikan (8)
St. Paul Auditorium 10,288
2–1
4
April 16
Syracuse
W 77–69
George Mikan (28)
Jim Pollard (4)
St. Paul Auditorium 10,512
3–1
5
April 20
@ Syracuse
L 76–83
George Mikan (28)
State Fair Coliseum 9,024
3–2
6
April 23
Syracuse
W 110–95
George Mikan (40)
Jim Pollard (10)
Minneapolis Auditorium 9,812
4–2 :
1950 schedule :

## Awards and honors

* George Mikan, All-NBA First Team
* Jim Pollard, All-NBA First Team