Former NBA and ABA star George McGinnis has died at age 73, the Pacers announced today in a press release. McGinnis passed away early on Thursday morning due to complications from a cardiac arrest he suffered last week.
An Indianapolis native, McGinnis played his college ball with the Hoosiers, then joined the Pacers in 1971. He helped the franchise claim a pair of ABA championships in 1972 and 1973, earning three ABA All-Star nods from 1973-75 and co-MVP honors (with Julius Erving) in ’75, when he lead the league in scoring.
McGinnis later made the move to the NBA and teamed up with Erving in Philadelphia, playing for the Sixers from 1975-78. He made two All-Star teams as a 76er and one more with the Nuggets in 1979 before rejoining the Pacers from 1980-82 to finish his playing career.
In 842 career NBA and ABA games, McGinnis scored 17,009 points and grabbed 9,233 rebounds, good for a double-double average (20.2 PPG, 11.0 RPG). He was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame as a player in 2017.
As the Pacers’ press release notes, McGinnis is one of four players in franchise history to have his number (No. 30) retired. Reggie Miller (31), Mel Daniels (34), and Roger Brown (35) are the others.
Our condolences go out to McGinnis’ friends and family.
Oh no, I just finished the Loose Balls book about the ABA last week. McGinnis was one of the greatest players of that league and later had some very good NBA seasons. True Indiana basketball legend.
Rest in peace, Sir.
Loose Balls is, without a doubt, one of the best street-level basketball books ever written. The ABA, wow !
RIP “Big Mac”…
The one handed, palmed jumper – the true windmill dunks. One of the most entertaining across leagues.
Of course, back then, players received advice from trainers on habits and diet. McGinnis had a habit of smoking cigs at halftime and such. Still, an incredibly great scorer and rebounder. Very much a treasure from the ABA days….
An absolute legend in the state of Indiana.
Teamed with Steve Downing on an all-time great high school team that went undefeated and won an Indiana state title. He turned pro, and left IU a year before Bobby Knight arrived in Bloomington.
A freak of nature. Can you think of anyone else who compares?
(LeBron + Royce White + Anthony Mason)/3 = George McGinnis
RIP legend
RIP George , he was the beginning of the renaissance of BB in Philly in the mid-70’s and paved the way for Dr.J. Condolences to his family.
RIP George McGinnis
He was the Goat for a few yrs. That Sixer team ……. Baller
I was a skinny teenager trying to shoot his one-handed jump shot in the driveway back in the day. Not good.
R.I.P. George