Hall of Famer McGinnis dies at age 73
Fred Jeter | 12/21/2023, 6 p.m.
George McGinnis, whose basketball Hall of Fame career spanned multiple seasons in the old ABA and NBA, died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, of heart complications. He was 73.
The powerful, 6-foot-8 forward scored 17,009 points (20.2 average), grabbed 9,233 rebounds (11.0) and passed for 3.089 assists (3.7) between 1971 and 1982.
Mr. McGinnis was a three-time ABA All-Star with the Indiana Pacers and three-time NBA All-Star with Philadelphia and Denver.
A native of Indianapolis, he helped Washington High to the 1969 Indiana state title and signed with nearby Indiana University.
Freshmen were not eligible for varsity play then. As a Hoosiers sophomore, Mr. McGinnis averaged 30 points per game, leading the Big 10.
In 1971, after one college season, he became one of the first players to leave school early when he signed with the ABA Pacers.
His jersey number, 30, was retired by the Pacers. In 2017, Mr. McGinnis was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
