Sixty-five years ago this Christmas John Kundla was in his first season of coaching the Minneapolis Lakers. Neither he nor the basketball community had any assurance the Lakers would win a world championship a few months later, and with his direction capture four more by the mid-1950s.
In December of 1948 Kundla might have been sitting near a Christmas tree wondering what he got himself into. Pro basketball was in its pioneer days back then with some franchises located in places like Rochester, New York and often ignored by the public even in big cities like Boston.
Kundla had given up the head coaching job at the College of St. Thomas to become the Lakers first coach. Sid Hartman, who is still writing a daily newspaper column and voicing his opinions on the radio in Minneapolis, was the Lakers general manager in the late 1940s and a persistent admirer of Kundla, who didn’t think the new franchise could be successful. Kundla said no twice to Hartman’s job offers before finally “consenting” to become the Lakers coach.
Kundla couldn’t refuse the money. Hartman offered a salary of $6,000.00. At St. Thomas Kundla earned $3,000.00.
A few days after Kundla joined the Lakers, Hartman signed 6-10 center George Mikan. The big man initially said no to Hartman, but after he finally accepted a contract the most important player was on board to bring Minneapolis world championships in 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953 and 1954.
Mikan was named Mr. Basketball for the first half of the 20th century. During his career the powerful center averaged 23.1 points and 9.5 rebounds. Mikan was so dominant that the width of the free throw lanes on the courts were widened so he couldn’t position himself close to the basket without being whistled for a three-second violation.
During the 1948-49 season Mikan averaged 28.3 points per game. The Lakers defeated Washington four games to two in a seven game series to win the first of their world titles. “I was thrilled,” Kundla told Sports Headliners this week. “Mikan was terrific.”
Mikan was popular among his teammates, and not just because of his dominance on the court and good-natured personality. Years ago basketball teams travelled by rail and train stations had pay toilets, but Mikan’s long arms allowed him to reach over the top of the doors and open them. He and his teammates didn’t have to pay 15 cents when they wanted to relieve themselves.
After the 1948-49 season the Lakers added power forward Vern Mikkelsen and guard Slater Martin to a roster that already included Mikan and small forward Jim Pollard. All four are in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
“I had a lot of luck,” Kundla said. “I was fortunate to get ballplayers that jelled as a team.”
Kundla and Mikkelsen, who passed away earlier this fall, were enshrined together in 1995. “That was the biggest thrill of all (going in with Mikkelsen). We were great friends,” Kundla said.
Kundla was raised and coached during a time when many coaches lived by the rule of “my way or the highway,” but he was different. Kundla loved his players and treated them with respect.
Ray Meyer, Mikan’s coach at DePaul, praised Kundla this way in the 1995 Hall of Fame printed program: “Coach Kundla was a coach’s coach. Players loved and respected him. He coached in a soft manner. …”
Kundla modeled his demeanor and basketball style, including the fast break, after his college coach at the University of Minnesota, Dave MacMillan. But that didn’t mean defense wasn’t important, too. “Defense was where we (the Lakers) shined the best,” Kundla said about his championship teams.
There was an NBA coach Kundla didn’t care much for, Boston’s Red Auerbach who lost a lot of games before acquiring the great Bill Russell. Auerbach, who later turned the Celtics into an NBA dynasty in the 1950s and 1960s, was known for his feisty ways and arrogance. Kundla recalled league meetings where Auerbach’s “lousy cigar” would permeate the room with smoke. “He had a lot of guts,” Kundla said.
Kundla is 97 years old now and makes his home in an assisted living facility in northeast Minneapolis. He lives only six blocks away from the apartment building that was his home when he signed his first contract with the Lakers.
Although Kundla can get around with the assistance of a walker, he spends most of his time in a wheelchair. His small apartment at the MainStreet Lodge includes basketball memorabilia. There is a celebration photo of Mikan and other Lakers lifting him on their shoulders. There is also basketball memorabilia about his grandchildren, Isaiah Dahlman from Michigan State, Noah Dahlman from Wofford and Rebekah Dahlman at Vanderbilt.
The two grandsons have used up their college eligibilities but Rebekah is only a freshman at Vandy after a great career at Braham High School that included being named 2013 Minnesota Miss Basketball. “She receives a scholarship worth $50,000 per year,” Kundla said. “Can you believe that?”
Kundla, who will enjoy a visit from family on Christmas Day, said he “counts my blessings everyday.” A former “gym teacher,” he has long been devoted to physical fitness and regularly rides a stationary bicycle. He has had three hip operations, wears a hearing aid and admits his eyesight is failing, but his spirits and smile are bright.
“I look like a million but I am 97,” Kundla laughed.
Kundla coached the Gophers in the late 1950s and 1960s but couldn’t put together consistent winning teams over the years. After that he worked for many years in recreation sports at the University. His coaching career also included DeLaSalle High School.
But for all his travels, it is the Lakers and those five championships that define his career journey. Requests to sign old Lakers photos still come frequently in the mail to his residence. He gladly obliges and even had a recent request from France.
On Tuesday about 100 people attended a Christmas party at the MainStreet Lodge. Kundla was surprised at how many people remembered the Lakers and wanted to talk about the franchise that left Minneapolis for Los Angeles in 1960.
The reminiscing makes Kundla think about what he almost missed out on because he was reluctant to become the Lakers coach. “If it wasn’t for Sid I wouldn’t have coached the Lakers. I give him a lot of credit.”
Mikan, Mikkelsen, Pollard and Martin have all passed away. Only a few individuals associated with those Minneapolis championship teams are still around. Kundla is the oldest survivor including Hartman who will be 94 in March.
Merry Christmas, coach.