The groundbreaking McGinnis, who captivated ABA and NBA fans with his one-handed jump shot, uncanny athleticism and pioneering spirit, died early Thursday morning.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — George McGinnis spent his teenage years sneaking into Pacers games at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
He finished his Hall of Fame career as one of the most popular, revered and decorated
But the 6-foot-8, 235-pound McGinnis was ahead of his time in more ways than anyone could imagine in the 1970s.
Following his one breakout college season, McGinnis took advantage of Spencer Haywood’s Supreme Court victory in 1971 that allowed underclassmen to turn pro under a hardship rule just two years after his father, Burnie, was killed from a fall off scaffolding. McGinnis signed with his hometown team, the Pacers.
His used those long strides, a powerful, elegant style and incredible passing ability to make three ABA All-Star teams and three NBA All-Star teams, earn multiple all-ABA and all-NBA selections and win the 1973 ABA playoff MVP in just his second pro season. And after making the ABA’s all-rookie team in 1971-72, he earned all-NBA honors in his first season (1975-76) in the more established league by becoming a central piece of the Philadelphia 76ers rebuilding project.
McGinnis’ best season came in 1974-75 when he won the ABA scoring title (29.8 points per game), finished second in steals (2.6), third in assists (6.3) and fifth in rebounds (14.3). He shared the league’s MVP Award with Hall of Famer Julius Erving, a future teammate in Philly.
For McGinnis, it a warmup to a historic playoff performance that included a 51-point, 17-rebound, 10-assist triple-double and becoming the first player in either league to top 200 points, 100 rebounds and 50 assists in a single postseason series. He actually did it twice, in back-to-back series.
And though he didn’t win that third title, McGinnis was the playoff leader in scoring (581 points), rebounding (286) and assists (148).
Those numbers helped fuel McGinnis’ next trailblazing effort — switching leagues on his own terms.
With the ABA struggling financially and the 76ers still holding his contractual rights two years after drafting him in 1973, Leonard once said he advised McGinnis to pursue more money in the NBA. McGinnis wanted to negotiate with a team of his choosing and initially signed a six-year, $2.4 million contract with the New York Knicks.
When NBA Commissioner Larry O’Brien voided the deal and punished the Knicks, McGinnis accepted a six-year, $3.2 million contract with the 76ers that included no‐cut, no‐trade and no-option clauses.
“Let George do it,” was the team slogan in McGinnis’ first season in Philly.
He delivered by leading the 76ers to their first playoff appearance since 1970-71 and Philadelphia saw its average home attendance increase by more than 5,000 per game. The next season, with Erving on the team, Philadelphia lost the NBA Finals to Portland in six games after winning the first two.
McGinnis spent three seasons with the 76ers before being traded to Denver. The Nuggets sent him back to the Pacers midway through the 1979-80 season and McGinnis finished his 11-year career with 2 1/2 seasons back home in Indiana.
McGinnis ended his pro career with 17,009 points, 9,233 rebounds and 3,089 assists, was a third-team All-American selection in his only college season and was named 1969 Mr. Basketball USA.
He also is a member of the Indiana’s athletic Hall of Fame and is one of four former Pacers players to have his jersey number retired.
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