25 Facts About George McGinnis

George F McGinnis was an American professional basketball player who played 11 seasons in the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association.

George McGinnis played college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers, earning third-team All-American honors in 1971, before starting his pro career in the ABA with the Indiana Pacers.

George McGinnis was a three-time NBA All-Star with the Philadelphia 76ers.

George McGinnis was named to the ABA All-Time Team and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

George F McGinnis was born in Harpersville, Alabama, on August 12,1950, but grew up in Indianapolis, where he attended Washington High School.

George McGinnis set an Indiana state tournament scoring record with 148 points in his final four games.

George McGinnis was named Mr Basketball for the state of Indiana that year.

George McGinnis lost his father in the midst of his senior season when Burnie died in a construction accident.

George McGinnis played football in high school, serving as wide receiver and defensive end, and he later stated that his best sport was "probably football", which he didn't even like as much as basketball.

George McGinnis averaged 29.9 points per game in his lone season with the Hoosiers, earning All-American and All-Big Ten Honors in 1971.

George McGinnis played for coach Lou Watson, the year before Indiana hired Bob Knight.

George McGinnis immediately became one of the marquee players of the ABA, playing a key role on the Indiana Pacers' championship teams in each of his first two seasons with his hometown franchise.

George McGinnis was named the ABA Playoffs MVP in 1973, averaging 23.9 points and 12.3 rebounds in 18 playoff games to help the Pacers repeat as champs.

In seven games against the Denver Nuggets in the 1975 ABA Western Division Finals, George McGinnis registered totals of 214 points, 103 rebounds, and 61 assists.

Two years into his professional career, George McGinnis was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers as the 22nd overall pick in the second round of the 1973 NBA draft.

George McGinnis made the All-NBA First Team in his debut season with the 76ers in 1976, and was selected to two All-Star games in his three seasons with the team.

George McGinnis scored 28 points in Game 6 but missed a shot at the end of a close game that saw the Portland Trail Blazers clinch the championship; McGinnis, defending himself as not being the reason the team lost, admitted that he had "played poorly the whole series".

George McGinnis was reported to have snuck cigarettes in practice to smoke and by this point, the 76ers had been ready to try and trade him for a year with his practice habits.

George McGinnis was traded to the Denver Nuggets in 1978 for Bobby Jones and Ralph Simpson along a switch of first round draft picks.

On January 9,1980, George McGinnis scored an NBA career-high 43 points, along with grabbing 12 rebounds, in a game against the Houston Rockets.

George McGinnis never played again, essentially retiring at the age of 31.

George McGinnis is one of four players to have his jersey retired by the Pacers.

George McGinnis married Lynda Dotson in 1976, and they were together until her death in 2023.

George McGinnis's health declined in his last years, primarily due to back problems that required multiple surgeries.

George McGinnis died of heart complications at a hospital in Indianapolis, on December 14,2023, at age 73.