George McGinnis - 2017 Basketball HOF

[LIHoosier]

Congrats to IU and Pacers great George McGinnis for making the 2017 class of the Basketball Hall of Fame

 

[incrediboy]

I remember a phone call at home from my boss at the Herald-Telephone, Bob Hammel, telling me that he wouldn't be able to cover George McGinnis's press conference when he signed with the Pacers of the old ABA. I would have to cover it, Hammel said. I sent him back one story, so much he broke it into two. Among the things I remember McGinnis saying:

"I wish IU the best." (of course his buddy Steve Downing was still with us)

"They keep talking merger, sometimes you have to make decisions based on the money." (the merger came but the money continued to flow). "This had nothing to do with the coaching change." (Lou Watson had just resigned and Knight had just been hired).

"I know I'm not going to take over the league overnight."

For those too young to remember the ABA, there were some great players that came out of it. Those who didn't get to see McGinnis play in high school at Indianapolis Washington (where he and Downing were on the IHSAA championship team) or at IU (I can remember one time McGinnis took the ball in the backcourt against a press and waved everyone else down the floor as if to say, "Let me handle this."), you missed something very special. I think had he stayed at IU and played a couple of years for Knight, he would have had a longer and better pro career, but that's something we'll never know.

 

[rebelhoosier848891]

Congrats to McGinnis --another Indiana legend!


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[rebelhoosier848891]

It surprises me that McGinnis is only the 4th Indiana player to be inducted--behind Branch McCracken, Walt Bellamy, and Isaiah Thomas. Thought we would have more...


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