Indiana Pacers legend George McGinnis, who is a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and the 1969 Indiana Mr. Basketball, died Thursday morning, according to the team. He was 73 years old.
Earlier in December, McGinnis suffered cardiac arrest at his home. The basketball great was transported to Community North Hospital, and there, each family, friends and former teammates gave their support until he died Thursday, according to the Pacers. (RELATED: Georgia High School Baseball Player Dead At 18 After Suffering Traumatic Brain Injury From Being Hit In Head By Bat)
In high school basketball, McGinnis kickstarted his career with Indianapolis Washington, who won the 1969 state championship. In his sophomore year of college with the Indiana Hoosiers, he led the Big Ten in scoring and rebounding, leading to a professional basketball career with the Indiana Pacers; he won two American Basketball Association (ABA) championships with the team.
In the 1974-75 season, he was named the ABA co-Most Valuable Player along with fellow basketball legend Julius Erving. He then eventually moved on to the National Basketball Association where he was named a two-time All-Star for the Philadelphia 76ers. Later, he went on to suit up for the Denver Nuggets, making a return to the Pacers to close out his 11-year career.
McGinnis retired in 1982.
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Hall of Famer George McGinnis.
“[George] was the very definition of an Indiana basketball legend, a champion, and Hall of Fame athlete. But he was more than that. George was family.”https://t.co/EKs4rs4Ljb pic.twitter.com/UDPSl1fgm9
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 14, 2023
McGinnis’ No. 30 is retired by Indiana, one of four numbers (Reggie Miller, Roger Brown and Mel Daniels) that are retired by the franchise.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.