Photo: Unknown author Unknown author — Public domainSource
Vern Mikkelsen
- October 21, 1928
- November 21, 2013
- 85 years
About Vern Mikkelsen
Vern Mikkelsen, 85, American Hall of Fame basketball player (Minneapolis Lakers).
Explore other notable deaths in 2013 or deaths in November 2013.
The Deaths Archive presents
How well do you know Vern Mikkelsen?
Explore their life. Test your knowledge. Beat the challenge.
10 questions · One legacy · How much do you really know?
Challenge your friends
Play together in real-time.
Advertisement
Full Biography
|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 and durability, playing 699 out of a possible 704 games during his career. He was a six-time All-Star and four-time Second Team All-NBA, and was inducted into the NAIA Basketball Hall of Fame 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.
Early life
Mikkelsen was born in Parlier, California and was raised in the Danish-American community of Askov, Minnesota. His father, Michael, was an immigrant from Denmark who became a Lutheran pastor in Askov.
College career
Mikkelsen entered Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota on a basketball scholarship at the age of 16. In his senior year, Mikkelsen led the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in field goal percentage. Hamline won the 1949 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament and Mikkelsen was voted an All-American. He would later receive a master's degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota.
Professional career
Minneapolis Lakers (1949-1960)
Mikkelsen played with George Mikan and Jim Pollard in the frontcourt of the Minneapolis Lakers. The Lakers won four NBA titles during Mikkelsen's career. Mikkelsen played in six NBA All-Star Games and was named to the All-NBA Second Team four times in his career.
Mikkelsen ended his career after ten seasons in the NBA in 1959, having played in 699 of a possible 704 regular-season games. He led the NBA in both personal fouls and fouling out of games for three straight seasons during his career, and finished his career with 10,063 points scored. Mikkelsen still holds the league record for career games fouling out with 127, which he did in only 631 games (the NBA did not record that statistic until his second season).
Honors and awards
In 1956, Mikkelsen was inducted into the NAIA Basketball Hall of Fame.
Mikkelsen was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995 along with Laker coach John Kundla.
In 2002, during halftime of a Lakers/Timberwolves game, Mikkelsen and fellow Hall of Fame teammates George Mikan, Slater Martin, Arlee Pollard (widow of Jim Pollard), Clyde Lovellette and Coach John Kundla were each presented with championship rings. The Minneapolis players received the same rings provided by the NBA to the champion Los Angeles Lakers that same year.
Coaching
Mikkelsen was involved with insurance when he was asked to do general managing for the Minnesota Muskies in April of 1968. He later coached and was general manager of the Minnesota Pipers of the American Basketball Association.
Personal life and family
Mikkelsen's wife Jean died in 2002 after 47 years of marriage. Their two sons are named Tom and John. In 2006 a biography was published by John Egan titled The Vern Mikkelsen Story.
Mikkelsen died on November 21, 2013, in Wayzata, Minnesota surrounded by his family.
NBA career statistics
Regular season
Playoffs
Head coaching record
ABA
Source
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Interactive
Test Your Knowledge – Trivia Challenge
How well do you know this person's life and legacy?
No account needed to play. Sign in to keep your score on the leaderboard.
Articles & News
- "4-time NBA champion Vern Mikkelsen dies at 85"washingtonpost.com
- "Vern Mikkelsen, Hall of Famer Who Won Four Titles With the Lakers, Dies at 85"nytimes.com
Reported coverage of Vern Mikkelsen; each link opens the original article on the publisher's own site.
Books & Media
Find books, audiobooks and films about Vern Mikkelsen on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vern_Mikkelsen
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Vern Mikkelsen's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was Vern Mikkelsen born?
- A.Askov, Minnesota
- B.Saint Paul, Minnesota
- C.Wayzata, Minnesota
- D.Parlier, Californiacorrect
Vern Mikkelsen was born in Parlier, California.
Source: Early life section
2.What was the profession of Vern Mikkelsen's father, Michael?
- A.Lutheran pastorcorrect
- B.Basketball coach
- C.Insurance salesman
- D.University professor
Michael Mikkelsen was an immigrant from Denmark who became a Lutheran pastor in Askov.
Source: Early life section
3.At what age did Vern Mikkelsen enter Hamline University?
- A.17
- B.16correct
- C.18
- D.15
Vern Mikkelsen entered Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota on a basketball scholarship at the age of 16.
Source: College career section
4.Vern Mikkelsen earned a master's degree from which institution?
- A.University of Minnesotacorrect
- B.Hamline University
- C.University of California
- D.Minneapolis College
Vern Mikkelsen would later receive a master's degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota.
Source: College career section
5.How many NBA titles did the Minneapolis Lakers win during Vern Mikkelsen's playing career?
- A.Three
- B.Fourcorrect
- C.Six
- D.Five
The Lakers won four NBA titles during Vern Mikkelsen's career.
Source: Minneapolis Lakers section
6.How many regular-season games did Vern Mikkelsen play out of a possible 704?
- A.704
- B.694
- C.699correct
- D.689
Vern Mikkelsen played in 699 of a possible 704 regular-season games.
Source: Minneapolis Lakers section
7.How many times was Vern Mikkelsen named to the All-NBA Second Team?
- A.Six
- B.Two
- C.Three
- D.Fourcorrect
Vern Mikkelsen was named to the All-NBA Second Team four times in his career.
Source: Minneapolis Lakers section
8.What is the league record Vern Mikkelsen still holds regarding his time in the NBA?
- A.Total rebounds
- B.Free throw percentage
- C.Consecutive points scored
- D.Career games fouling outcorrect
Vern Mikkelsen still holds the league record for career games fouling out with 127.
Source: Minneapolis Lakers section
9.In what year was Vern Mikkelsen inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame?
- A.2006
- B.1995correct
- C.2002
- D.1956
Vern Mikkelsen was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.
Source: Honors and awards section
10.In 2002, Vern Mikkelsen was presented with a championship ring alongside which coach?
- A.John Kundlacorrect
- B.Jim Pollard
- C.George Mikan
- D.Slater Martin
Vern Mikkelsen and Coach John Kundla were each presented with championship rings in 2002.
Source: Honors and awards section
11.What professional organization did Vern Mikkelsen manage starting in April 1968?
- A.Los Angeles Lakers
- B.Minnesota Muskiescorrect
- C.Minnesota Timberwolves
- D.Minneapolis Lakers
Vern Mikkelsen was asked to do general managing for the Minnesota Muskies in April of 1968.
Source: Coaching section
12.What was the name of Vern Mikkelsen's wife?
- A.Jeancorrect
- B.Mary
- C.Elizabeth
- D.Susan
Vern Mikkelsen's wife Jean died in 2002 after 47 years of marriage.
Source: Personal life and family section
13.What are the names of Vern Mikkelsen's two sons?
- A.Tom and Johncorrect
- B.George and Slater
- C.Michael and Arild
- D.Jim and Clyde
Vern Mikkelsen and his wife had two sons named Tom and John.
Source: Personal life and family section
14.Who authored the 2006 biography titled The Vern Mikkelsen Story?
- A.John Egancorrect
- B.Slater Martin
- C.George Mikan
- D.John Kundla
In 2006 a biography was published by John Egan titled The Vern Mikkelsen Story.
Source: Personal life and family section
15.Where did Vern Mikkelsen die on November 21, 2013?
- A.Askov, Minnesota
- B.Wayzata, Minnesotacorrect
- C.Parlier, California
- D.Saint Paul, Minnesota
Vern Mikkelsen died on November 21, 2013, in Wayzata, Minnesota.
Source: Personal life and family section
16.Vern Mikkelsen served as a coach and general manager for which ABA team?
- A.Minnesota Muskies
- B.Los Angeles Lakers
- C.Minneapolis Lakers
- D.Minnesota Piperscorrect
Vern Mikkelsen later coached and was general manager of the Minnesota Pipers of the American Basketball Association.
Source: Coaching section
People who died on November 21
Spotted an error?
Help us keep the archive accurate. Report a correction with a source.
Report an error for Vern Mikkelsen →Advertisement
