George McGinnis, Naismith Hall of Famer, dies at 73

George McGinnis, the former NBA and ABA All-星／主役にする who was later inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, has died at 73 after 報道によれば 苦しむing a cardiac 逮捕（する）. The Indiana native's 医療の 緊急 was first 明らかにする／漏らすd on Tuesday by the Indianapolis 記録，記録的な／記録する Newspaper and long-time NBA insider Peter Vescey, who 報告（する）／憶測d that McGinnis had been on life support for three days.

'The greatest Indiana Pacer ever is fighting for his life after going in to cardiac 逮捕（する）,' read a Facebook 地位，任命する on the newspaper's account. 'Please light a candle for George McGinnis.' On Thursday, the Pacers 明らかにする／漏らすd that McGinnis had passed away.

'From his all-明言する／公表する high school days to his time as an IU All-American and, of course, to his 伝説の ABA 選手権 runs with the Pacers, George McGinnis 形態／調整d so many of the fondest basketball memories for 世代s of Hoosiers,' read a 声明 from the Pacers and the Simon Family, which owns the team. He was the very 鮮明度／定義 of an Indiana basketball legend, a 支持する／優勝者, and Hall of Fame 競技者,' the 声明 continued. But he was more than that. George was family. A 熱烈な 支持する for his fellow ABA players and a 現在の, smiling 直面する around the franchise, George has been as synonymous with our Pacers franchise as anyone. He will be 大いに 行方不明になるd, and all of us at Pacers Sports & En tertainment will keep George and his family in our 祈りs.'

McGinnis was 栄誉（を受ける）d by Indiana Hoosiers coach マイク Woodson, another Indianapolis native who followed his idol to Bloomington. 'I loved George McGinnis,' Woodson said in a 声明. 'He meant so much not only to ISU and the 明言する／公表する of Indiana, but to the entire basketball world.' Not only did McGinnis play high school and college ball in Indiana, but he also played in the ABA and NBA over two separate stints with the Pacers.?In fact, many in Indianapolis credit McGinnis with saving the Pacers, which periodically 脅すd to leave the city. 'The Pacers are still around today in large part thanks to this man, who finally got his 予定 in 2017 as a Naismith Hall of Fame Inductee,' Pacers announcer Pat Boylan wrote on X. 'RIP to an Indianapolis and Indiana legend.'

McGinnis is basketball 王族 in the Hoosier 明言する／公表する, where he was recently inducted into the Indiana University 運動競技のs Hall of Fame. Not only is he from Indianapolis, but he played at IU in 1970 and 1971 before joining the ABA's Pacers from 1971 until 1975. He would 勝利，勝つ two ABA 肩書を与えるs during that time, and was 指名するd the ABA 最高殊勲選手 in 1975 before joining the NBA the に引き続いて season.

It was in Philadelphia that McGinnis became a 世帯 指名する, playing と一緒に Julius Erving, Darryl Dawkins, マイク Dunleavy, World B. 解放する／自由な, Caldwell Jones and Doug Collins on a team that was famously upset by Maurice Lucas, 法案 Walton and the Portland 追跡する Blazers in the 1977 NBA 決勝戦. 'He was built like Superman,' Dr. J said in 2017 when McGinnis was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Until LeBron [James] （機の）カム along, you never saw another guy that had George's physical abilities on a basketball 法廷，裁判所.'

His time in Philadelphia was memorable, even if the 76ers failed to 勝利，勝つ a 肩書を与える during his 任期 there. 'McGinnis' Sixers' teams were の中で the NBA's best to never 勝利，勝つ a 肩書を与える,' WFAN's Joey Wahler wrote on X. A 76ers fan followed: 'Every kid in Philly of a 確かな age grew up trying to imitate his one 手渡すd jumper. Then we realized if you didn't have 手渡すs the size of George's it was impossible. God bless Big Mac.' The Sixers 解放（する）d a team 声明 on Thursday: 'George McGinnis was a Hall of Famer on and off the 法廷，裁判所, 収入 several accolades during an ABA-NBA career that spanned a １０年間. 'He joined our team in the 中央の-70s and 証明するd to be an incredible 軍隊 と一緒に Julius Erving - the 二人組 主要な our team to a 1977 NBA 決勝戦 外見.

'Our sincerest 弔慰s go out to George's family and friends. He will be sorely 行方不明になるd.' McGinnis was a 星／主役にする at Washington High School in Indianapolis, where he and his 未来 IU チーム仲間 Steve 負かす／撃墜するing led the school to a 31-0 記録，記録的な／記録する and 明言する／公表する 肩書を与える in 1969. The two would have 類似の success at Indiana under coach Lou Watson ? one season before the school 雇うd （頭が）ひょいと動く Knight, the Hoosier legend who died earlier this year.

But McGinnis' stay in Bloomington was 簡潔な／要約する, and he was soon off to the upstart ABA, where he was 指名するd to the All-新人 team in 1972. The Pacers were 支配的な in his first two seasons, winning a pair of ABA 栄冠を与えるs under coach 悪賢い Leonard, who passed away in 2021. He was at his best in 1974-75, 普通の／平均（する）ing 29.8 points and 10.3 回復するs a game, although the Pacers would 落ちる to Artis Gilmore, Dan Issel and the Kentucky 陸軍大佐s in the ABA 決勝戦 that season.

に引き続いて the 1976 ABA-NBA 合併, McGinnis would return to the Pacers in 1980 に引き続いて a two-year stint with the Denver Nuggets. He 最終的に retired in 1982. He was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2017 と一緒に Tracy McGrady, 法案 Self, and Rebecca Lobo.?Read the 十分な story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/nba/article-12855025/George-McGinnis-NBA-ABA-Indiana-dies.html?ito=msngallery

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