George McGinnis, a Hall of Famer who won two ABA championships with the Indiana Pacers, died Thursday morning at age 73.
The Pacers announced that McGinnis passed away after suffering cardiac arrest at his home last week. He spent his final days at a hospital with family and friends present.
“He was the very definition of an Indiana basketball legend, a champion, and Hall of Fame athlete,” the Simon family said in a statement shared by the Pacers. “But he was more than that. George was family. A passionate advocate for his fellow ABA players and a present, smiling face around the franchise, George has been as synonymous with our Pacers franchise as anyone. He will be greatly missed.”
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
McGinness led the Pacers to back-to-back ABA titles in 1972 and 1973. He was named co-MVP alongside Julius Erving after averaging 29.8 points, 14.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 2.6 steals per game in 1974-75. Despite averaging 32.2 points and 15.9 boards in the postseason, the Pacers fell short to the Kentucky Colonels in the Finals.
The power forward then went to the NBA, averaging a double-double in each of his three seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers. He earned his sixth All-Star nod with the Denver Nuggets before closing his career in Indiana.
McGuinnis averaged 20.2 points and 11.0 rebounds over 11 seasons. The Pacers retired his number (30), and he was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2017.
“We sadly lost a legend today,” Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard said. “George McGinnis was incomparable, a beloved Pacers’ icon who embodied the spirit of Indiana basketball. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”