George McGinnis, a 2017 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and Indiana Pacers legend, died Thursday morning from complications of cardiac arrest at age 73. The Pacers shared the news in a statement, revealing that McGinnis went into cardiac arrest last week, and passed away Thursday at Community North Hospital in Indianapolis.
The Simon Family and Pacers Sports & Entertainment said in a news release: “[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.”
McGinnis, born in Harpersville, Ala, attended Indianapolis Washington High School before starring at Indiana University in 1970-71. He spent the first four years of his professional career with the Pacers in the ABA. The 6-foot-8 forward was a two-time ABA champion, six-time All-Star and five-time All-League selection, later joining the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA. He also played with the Denver Nuggets before returning to the Pacers. McGinnis averaged 20.2 points, 11 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game between his ABA and NBA tenures, averaging a league and career-high 29.8 points, along with 14.3 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 2.6 steals
McGinnis will have a private funeral and burial, with a celebration of life to be held after Jan. 1 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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