Presented is an extremely rare pair of George Mikan's eyeglasses that the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer wore while playing for DePaul University. In high school in Illinois, the 6'10" Mikan was shy and awkward, and actually not especially athletic. He was embarrassed about his height and reticent to assert himself, on-and-off the court. Ray Meyer became his basketball coach at DePaul University, and Meyer was smart enough to ignore the conventional wisdom of the time that held that very tall persons were too awkward to make top-rated basketball players. Meyer had Mikan practice ambidextrous hook shots for hours on end, Meyer also had Mikan work out on a boxing speed bag and take dancing lessons. Meyer also worked on Mikan's psyche, and the young, insecure center became an aggressive force. Mikan was the Helms NCAA Player of the Year in 1944 and '45, and Mikan led DePaul to the 1945 NIT title, at that time a more prestigious title than the NCAA Championship. In pro basketball, then in its nascent days, Mikan played on the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League, and the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBL, BAA, and NBA. He won seven pro World Championships and three professional scoring titles. Mikan became so well known that his nickname became "Mr. Basketball." His talent and size led to a number of pro rule changes, including the widening of the foul lanes and a prohibition against goaltending. After his career, he was an attorney, and later the Commissioner of the American Basketball Association. The offered glasses come in a vintage hard case. The eyeglasses are 4.25" from side-to-side, and although there are no markings to show the magnification, the glasses are certainly strong and of a high magnification. The glasses come with a LOA from coach Ray Meyer. The typed and encapsulated LOA reads, "George Mikan Glasses/On this date, June 9 of 1985, I, Ray Meyer hereby attest that the enclosed eyeglasses were owned and used by George Mikan during his playing days at DePaul. This note may be used as a letter of provenance. Signed, Ray Meyer (signature in ink)". (JSA #L10842)