George McGinnis facts for kids
McGinnis with the Indiana Pacers during a game in the 1972–73 season versus the Kentucky Colonels
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 12, 1950 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | December 14, 2023 (aged 73) |
| High school | George Washington (Indianapolis, Indiana) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Indiana (1970–1971) |
| NBA Draft | 1973 / Round: 2 / Pick: 22nd overall |
| Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers | |
| Pro career | 1971–1982 |
| Career history | |
| 1971–1975 | Indiana Pacers |
| 1975–1978 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1978–1980 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1980–1982 | Indiana Pacers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career ABA and NBA statistics | |
| Points | 17,009 (20.2 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 9,233 (11.0 rpg) |
| Assists | 3,089 (3.7 apg) |
George F. McGinnis (August 12, 1950 – December 14, 2023) was an American professional basketball player. He played for 11 seasons in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). George McGinnis was known for his powerful playing style. He was drafted into the ABA in 1971 after playing college basketball at Indiana University.
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Early Life and High School Success
George McGinnis grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. He went to Washington High School. In 1969, he and his teammate Steve Downing led their team to an amazing season. They won all 31 of their games and became state champions. McGinnis set a new scoring record for the Indiana state tournament. He scored 148 points in his last four games. That same year, he was also named Indiana Mr. Basketball, a top honor for high school players in Indiana.
College Basketball Journey
In the 1970–71 season, McGinnis played college basketball for Indiana University. He quickly became a star player. He was the first sophomore to lead the Big Ten conference in both scoring and rebounding. He scored an average of 29.9 points per game in his only season at Indiana. For his great performance, he earned All-American and All-Big Ten honors in 1971.
Professional Basketball Career
Becoming a Star with the Indiana Pacers (1971–1975)
George McGinnis quickly became one of the most exciting players in the ABA. He joined his hometown team, the Indiana Pacers. In his first two seasons, he helped the Pacers win two championships. In 1973, he was named the ABA Playoffs MVP. He averaged 23.9 points and 12.3 rebounds per game during the playoffs. This helped the Pacers win their second championship.
His best season was in 1974–75. McGinnis scored a career-high 29.8 points per game. He also won the ABA MVP award that year. In the 1975 ABA Playoffs, he had an incredible performance. He nearly averaged a triple-double (points, rebounds, and assists in double digits). He averaged 32.3 points, 15.9 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game. Even with his amazing play, the Pacers lost in the ABA Finals.
During these playoffs, McGinnis achieved some rare basketball feats:
- He recorded the first 50+ point triple-double in NBA/ABA Playoff history. This happened on April 12, 1975. He scored 51 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, and made 10 assists.
- He was the first player in NBA/ABA history to get over 200 points, 100 rebounds, and 50 assists in a single playoff series. He did this twice in a row!
Playing for the Philadelphia 76ers (1975–1978)
After his time in the ABA, McGinnis was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1973 NBA draft. There was some discussion about which team he would play for. In the end, he signed a big contract with the 76ers in July 1975.
In his first season with the 76ers, McGinnis was named to the All-NBA First Team. He was also selected for two All-Star games during his three seasons in Philadelphia. He played alongside other great players like Julius Erving and Caldwell Jones. McGinnis helped the 76ers reach the NBA Finals in 1977. They lost to the Portland Trail Blazers in six games.
Time with the Denver Nuggets (1978–1980)
In 1978, McGinnis was traded to the Denver Nuggets. He continued to play well and was an All-Star again that season. On January 9, 1980, he scored an NBA career-high 43 points in a game against the Houston Rockets. He also grabbed 12 rebounds in that game.
Returning to the Indiana Pacers (1980–1982)
The Pacers hoped to bring back excitement to their team by getting McGinnis back. They traded Alex English to re-acquire him. However, McGinnis was no longer in his prime. He averaged 13.1 points per game during the 1980-81 NBA season. He couldn't help the Pacers get past the first round of the 1981 NBA Playoffs. Meanwhile, Alex English became a star player for the Nuggets.
George McGinnis is one of only four players to have his jersey number 30 retired by the Pacers. The others are Roger Brown, Reggie Miller, and Mel Daniels. All four of these players are also in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Basketball Hall of Fame Recognition
On April 1, 2017, it was announced that George McGinnis would be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This is a huge honor for basketball players. He was officially inducted on September 8, 2017. In September 2023, he was also inducted into the IU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Key Achievements in ABA and NBA
- Won two ABA championships with the Indiana Pacers (1972 and 1973).
- Named ABA Playoffs MVP in 1973.
- Selected as ABA Co-MVP in 1975.
- Won the ABA scoring title in 1975.
- Made the All-ABA First Team twice (1974–1975).
- Was an ABA All-Star three times (1973–1975).
- Recorded 14 triple-doubles in the ABA, more than any other player in that league.
- Made the All-NBA First Team in 1976.
- Was an NBA All-Star three times (1976, 1977, and 1979).
- Member of the ABA's All-Time Team.
- His jersey number 30 was retired by the Indiana Pacers.
- Inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.
See also
In Spanish: George McGinnis para niños
- Basketball in the United States
