MINNEAPOLIS -- Vern Mikkelsen, a Hall of Fame basketball player who won four NBA titles with the Minneapolis Lakers, has died. Allen Iverson Jersey . He was 85. Mikkelsen died on Thursday night surrounded by family, the Los Angeles Lakers announced on Friday. He was a six-time All-Star during 10 years with the Lakers, teaming with George Mikan and Jim Pollard in a frontcourt that to this day is considered one of the best the league has ever seen. Though he was known for his hard-nosed defence, Mikkelsen averaged 14.4 points and 9.4 rebounds in his career and emerged as one of the leagues first true power forwards. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995. "I was a good basketball player, but I attribute greatness to those individuals who sacrifice their time, talents, and efforts for the benefit of others," Mikkelsen wrote in the forward to "The Vern Mikkelsen Story," which was published in 2006. "I did some of that, too, though not nearly as much as I would have liked to, looking back on it." Arild Verner Mikkelson was born in Fresno, Calif., in 1928 and grew up in the northern Minnesota town of Askov, about 95 miles north of Minneapolis. He played college ball at Hamline in St. Paul, at the time a basketball power that sent two other players to the Lakers as well. Mikkelsen was drafted in 1949 and helped lead the Lakers to championships in 1950 and three in a row from 1952-54. One of the leagues original enforcers, Mikkelsen was a physical player and fouled out a record 127 times before retiring in 1959. "He was the protector of Mikan," said Wolves president Flip Saunders, who got to know Mikkelsen during 10 years as a coach in the organization. "He loved being around here. And he was one of the best story tellers." He was later the coach and general manager of the ABAs Minnesota Pipers. "Vern was one of the first in a long line of great Lakers players, and a key link to our franchises early years in Minnesota," Lakers President Jeanie Buss said in a statement. "We appreciate his contributions to the Lakers and our legacy, and we send our condolences and best wishes to his family." Mikkelsens name hangs in the rafters at Staples Center on a banner that also is home to the retired jerseys in the organization. Mikkelsen remained a revered figure in Minnesota long after his playing days, a gracious story teller who remained close to the game long after he retired. In his later years, Mikkelsen overcame two strokes, diabetes, prostate cancer and the death of his wife of 47 years in 2002. And he remained upbeat through it all. "Keep on doing your best with what you have to work with, as we all have an obligation to take care of ourselves and live as long as possible, respecting each day as a great gift with the intention of sharing the simple, meaningful things of life with family, friends and our community," Mikkelsen wrote. He was influential in bringing the NBA back to Minnesota in the 1980s and the Timberwolves planned to hold a moment of silence to honour him on Friday night before they played the Brooklyn Nets. "During his playing days at Hamline University and the Lakers, Vern was a dominant force on the court and one of the games great power forwards," the Wolves said in a statement. "Vern was a great friend to our organization and we offer our condolences to his family." Kyle Anderson Jersey .B. -- Canadas Rachel Homan had ideal preparation for the playoffs at the Ford World Curling Championships with a pair of hard-fought wins over tenacious opponents Thursday. Lorenzen Wright Jersey . -- The Atlanta Braves added to their extensive wave of long-term deals with their young stars on Sunday by agreeing to a $42 million, four-year contract with All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel. http://www.grizzliesbasketballpro.info/ . The defeat leaves the 41-year-old Nestor to concentrate on the mixed-doubles event after winning 12 straight matches and winning Australian titles in Brisbane and Sydney with two different partners. "This was a little bit of a let down, but all credit to them," said Nestor.Lewis Hamilton insists Nico Rosbergs early 36-point title lead is a big deal but says he is up to the challenge as he targets his first clean weekend of 2016 in Russia. Hamiltons attempts to become a four-time champion have been dogged by problems in the opening three rounds. A combination of poor starts, collisions and reliability problems have left him closer to the Ferrari and Red Bull drivers in the standings than Rosberg, his Mercedes team-mate.Meanwhile, Rosberg is yet to be beaten on race day in 2016 and is on a run of six straight victories stretching back to last November. But, as part of a record-breaking 21-race season, 18 rounds still remain with 450 points still up for grabs.Asked if 36 points - the equivalent of a race victory and fourth-place finish - was therefore not yet a big deal in title terms, Hamilton replied: I dont look at it lightly and I dont look at it like its not a big deal, its a big deal.Its 36 points, its a lot of points, a race and a bit, and I dont take it for granted that it is a big step. However, while aware that he has significant early ground to make up, Hamilton points out he twice overhauled similar deficits to Rosberg en-route to winning the title in 2014 - the second time when there were only seven races of that season left.I know Ive got work to do, he added. I dont look at it and I think ah, its nothing but on the flip side, in a shorter period of time Ive come from 29 [points behind].Rosberg: Lewis will fight backThere are 18 races, it is an average of two points a race [to make up], so its not impossible.Hamilton downplayed a suggestion that overhauling an in-form Rosberg could prove his greatest career challenge - its one of them, but Ive been racing 23 years and theres been a lot of challenges, from the get-go, he said - but is aware his season requires an upturn.Despite the advantage of pole position at the first two rounds, Hamilton has yet to run higher than sixth at the end of an opening lap in 2016. His probllems were compounded in Bahrain and China, where he started last after an engine change, by first-corner collisions with other drivers. Marc Gasol Jersey. Natalie Pinkham is joined by former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley and former Williams Senior Operations Engineer Dominic Harlow to look ahead to Russia I had the best start of the whole grid in the last race. We have been working on that issue and obviously I had a good start [in China], Hamilton said.When is the Russian GP on Sky?Its just the last two races Ive been driving with a loss of performance of nearly a second in each race.But Im hoping for a clean weekend and, by a good start, hopefully move on from there.Ive still had two poles, and I didnt get to qualify in the last race, so hopefully we have another chance this weekend.Watch the whole Russian GP weekend - LIVE ONLY on Sky Sports F1. The race begins at 1pm on Sunday, with build-up from 11.30am. Or watch the race without a contract for £6.99 on NOW TV. Also See: Rosberg expects rivals fightback When is the Russian GP on Sky? ' ' '