The world of basketball is mourning the loss of hall of famer George McGinnis, following the news of his death which is presently trending on the internet. McGinnis, a former professional basketball player who exhibited his prowess in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as well as the American Basketball Association (ABA) for 11 seasons, was a distinguished athlete.
In 1971, the ABA welcomed McGinnis into their ranks, following his departure from Indiana University. He made history as the first sophomore to top the Big Ten in both scoring and rebounds in his 1970–71 season at Indiana. His impressive average of 29.9 points per game during his single season in Bloomington earned him a spot as an All-American and All-Big Ten selection in 1971. He was part of the Indiana University team under the guidance of coach Lou Watson, the year before Bob Knight was appointed.
News about McGinnis’s death was announced by the Indiana Pacers on Thursday morning. The 73-year-old basketball legend was hospitalised after suffering cardiac arrest at his home last week, as reported by ESPN. The Pacers, in their press release, revealed that McGinnis passed away due to complications from the cardiac arrest. His family, friends, and former teammates maintained a supportive vigil at Community North Hospital till his passing.
McGinnis commenced his professional basketball journey in 1971 with the Pacers, prior to the ABA-NBA merger. His influence on basketball is significant, having impacted several generations of Hoosiers. The Simon Family, in their statement, hailed him as a champion, a Hall of Famer, and the epitome of an Indiana basketball legend, a key member of the family, and a dedicated supporter of his fellow ABA players.
The Pacers also announced that a memorial service for McGinnis will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis at a later date. McGinnis will also have a private funeral. The Pacers declared, “We extend our deepest sympathies to George’s friends and family. We shall miss him.”
During his stint with the Pacers, McGinnis claimed two titles in the American Basketball Association and shared the 1974–75 ABA MVP award with Julius “Dr. J” Erving. In 1973, he was chosen by the Sixers with the 22nd pick in the second round of the NBA Draft. McGinnis was a member of two All-Star teams with the Sixers and helped propel the club to the NBA Finals in 1977. His career with the Sixers saw him average 21.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists across three seasons.
Before retiring as a Pacer in 1982, McGinnis played for the Denver Nuggets, effectively ending his 11-year professional career. He is one of four Pacers whose number (30) has been retired. In 2017, McGinnis was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame of the Naismith Memorial.
On a personal note, McGinnis attended Washington High School in Indianapolis. In 1969, he and fellow teammate Steve Downing led Washington to a 31-0 record and a state title. McGinnis broke the scoring record for the Indiana State tournament with 148 points in his final four games. In the same year, he was named Indiana’s Mr. Basketball. As a former athlete of Indiana University and George Washington High School in Indianapolis, McGinnis was considered a local hero.
