How each of the NBA dynasties ended

Dynasty: 1948-1954; Five championships, Five Finals appearances

The biggest reason the Minneapolis Lakers dynasty ended was the retirement of George Mikan following the 1954 NBA Finals. Mikan, who was only 29 when he retired, had suffered multiple broken bones and injuries during his career but would stay with the franchise as a general manager and coach (he even came back to play for several games), but the franchise wasn't the same. He was the NBA's first superstar, and his retirement put the team into some hard times and eventually led its relocation to Los Angeles.