George McGinnis was a professional basketball player. He played with the National Basketball Association with teams like the Indiana Pacers, and the Denver Nuggets. He is a Basketball Hall of Famer and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.
Player Profile and Personal Life
George F. McGinnis was born on August 12, 1950, in Harpersville, Alabama in the United States of America. He stood 203 cm tall and his weight was last listed at 107 kg.
In 1976, he married Lynda Dotson. They remained married until she died in 2019. He died on December 14, 2023, aged 73 in Indianapolis, Indiana in the United States. He had suffered from back issues by that point and had had multiple surgeries.
| Position | Power Forward |
| Height / weight | 2.03 m / 107 kg |
| Born | 10 Aug 1950 |
| Died | 14 Dec 2023 (73 years) |
| Nationality |
United States
|
| Playing Style | Right Handed |
| Nickname | Big Mac |
| Team History | |
Indiana
|
1980 - 1982 |
Denver
|
1978 - 1980 |
Philadelphia
|
1975 - 1978 |
|
Indiana
|
1971 - 1975 |
High School and College Career
After starring for his high school team, he enrolled at the University of Indiana, where he continued to dazzle on the court.
While still in high school, he was named Indiana Mr. Basketball and in the same year, he was also named 1969’s Mr. Basketball USA.
Professional Career
McGinnis decided to forego his college senior year to become a professional, and the Philadelphia 76ers selected him in the 1972 NBA Draft.
Instead of joining Philadelphia, he would sign with the Indiana Pacers who were then still a part of the ABA. McGinnis and the team would win consecutive ABA Championships in 1972 and 1973. In 1975, he was named the ABA MVP.
In 1975, he started his career with the 76ers. In his first year with the team, he was named an NBA All-Star. Also in 1976, he was named to the All-NBA First Team.
In 1978, he signed with the Denver Nuggets, playing with them from 1978 to 1980. His last seasons in the NBA were spent with the Pacers once more, paying with them from 1980 until his retirement in 1982. The Pacers would later retire jersey number 30 in his honor.
Career Highlights
- 1976, 1977, 1979 - NBA All-Star
- 1976 - All-NBA First Team
- 1977 - All-NBA Second Team
- 1972, 1973 - ABA champion
- 1973 - ABA Playoffs MVP
- 1975 - ABA MVP
- 1973–1975 - ABA All-Star
- 1974, 1975 - All-ABA First Team
- 1973 - All-ABA Second Team
- 1972 - ABA All-Rookie First Team
1975 - ABA scoring champion
- ABA All-Time Team
No. 30 retired by Indiana Pacers
- 1971 - Third-team All-American – AP, NABC, UPI
- 1969 - Mr. Basketball USA
- 1969 - First-team Parade All-American
- 1969 - Indiana Mr. Basketball
Career ABA and NBA Statistics
- Points - 17,009 (20.2 ppg)
- Rebounds - 9,233 (11.0 rpg)
Assists - 3,089 (3.7 apg)
- Basketball Hall of Fame as a player, 2017
