INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana Pacers legend and Washington High School hoops star George McGinnis has died at age 73.

The Pacers confirmed McGinnis’ death on social media Thursday morning, saying in part, “[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 was born in Indianapolis on Aug. 10, 1950, and attended Washington High School, where he helped lead the team to a 31-0 record and a state championship in 1969. He set an Indiana state tournament record with 148 points in his last four games and was named Mr. Basketball that same year.

McGinnis remained close to many of his teammates from Washington High School; News 8’s Brittany Noble spoke to the Pacers legend in May during his monthly lunch at Workingman’s Friend with other members of the 1969 state championship squad.

After his star turn at Washington, McGinnis moved on to Indiana University in 1970, becoming the first sophomore to lead the Big Ten in scoring. He spent just one season with the Hoosiers, averaging 30 points per game on his way to All-American and All-Big Ten Honors in 1971.

Indy hoops icon becomes Pacers legend

McGinnis left IU for the Indiana Pacers and quickly became one of the ABA’s biggest stars.

The homegrown hoopster played a key role in the team’s back-to-back ABA championships in 1972 and 1973. He was named the 1973 ABA Finals MVP, averaging 24 points and 12.3 rebounds in 18 games.

McGinnis played for the Pacers from 1971-75. During that time, he earned two All ABA First Team selections (1974), won the ABA scoring title (1975), and was named ABA co-MVP with Julius “Dr. J” Erving in 1975.

Moving on

The Philadelphia 76ers selected McGinnis with the 22nd overall pick in the 1973 NBA Draft. An attempt by the 76ers to send his rights to the New York Knicks fell through in the fall of 1974, and McGinnis opted to stay in Indiana.

The Pacers used the buyout clause in his contract at the end of the 1974-5 season. McGinnis moved on to Philadelphia, leading the team to the 1977 NBA Finals before a trade to the Denver Nuggets in 1978.

The Pacers reacquired McGinnis in 1980, where he stayed until his retirement at the end of the 1981-82 season.

He is one of only four players to have his jersey retired by the Pacers. His #30 jersey hangs from the rafters at Gainbridge Fieldhouse alongside those of Roger Brown, Reggie Miller, and Mel Daniels.

McGinnis was added to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.

Stat sheet

• 2x ABA Champion (1972, 1973)

• ABA Playoffs MBP (1973)

• ABA scoring champion (1975)
• ABA Regular Season Co-MVP with Julius Erving (1975)
• 3x ABA All-Star (1972, 1973, 1974)
• 3x NBA All-Star (1976, 1977, 1979)
• Indiana Mr. Basketball (1969)
• Mr. Basketball USA (1969)
• First Indiana high school basketball player to record 1,000 points in a season. (1969)
• First player in NBA/ABA history with 200+ points, 100+ rebounds, and 50+ assists in a single playoff series — which he did twice in the same postseason. (1975)
• First player in NBA/ABA history to lead the playoffs in total points (581), total rebounds (286), and total assists (148) until Nikola Jokic recorded 600 playoff points in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
• First in NBA/ABA history to record a 50+ point triple-double with 51 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists on April 12, 1975, a feat matched only by Russell Westbrook in 2017.