HOFer McGinnis dies at 73

George McGinnis spent his teenage years sneaking into Indiana Pacers games at the state fairgrounds. He finished his Hall of Fame career as one of the most popular, revered and decorated basketball players in Pacers history. The groundbreaking power forward, who captivated ABA and NBA fans with his one-handed jump shot, uncanny athleticism and pioneering spirit, died early Thursday morning. McGinnis was 73. The Pacers said he died following complications from a cardiac arrest suffered last week at his home. McGinnis also had struggled to walk in recent years after undergoing multiple back surgeries because of a hereditary condition. McGinnis was the consummate Hoosier, listening to high school games from the Hinkle Fieldhouse parking lot, relying on friendly ushers to introduce him to pro basketball. Basketball turned McGinnis into a celebrity whose career path had him rubbing elbows with some of Indiana’s biggest basketball names — Oscar Robertson, Rick Mount, Larry Bird, Bobby “Slick” Leonard, Bob Knight and dozens of others through the years. After watching Robertson lead Indianapolis Crispus Attucks to Indiana’s first undefeated state championship in 1956, McGinnis matched him by taking Indianapolis Washington on a 31-0 title run and the third perfect season in Indiana history in 1969. Robertson and McGinnis both refined their games at Indianapolis’ famed Lockefield Dust Bowl. McGinnis followed that championship by scoring 53 points and grabbing 30 rebounds in the second game of the annual Indiana-Kentucky AllStar Series that summer. McGinnis signed with his hometown team, the Pacers. He also played for the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets before finishing his 11-year career back with the Pacers. He was the ABA’s 1974-75 MVP and a threetime ABA All-Star.