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Indiana Basketball: The 10 Best Hoosiers to play in the NBA: 4-1

By Zach Breton

AUBURN HILLS, MI - FEBRUARY 8: Basketball Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas was honored at halftime as part of Detroit's 'Best of Seven' series at the Palace of Auburn Hills on February 8, 2017 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI - FEBRUARY 8: Basketball Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas was honored at halftime as part of Detroit's 'Best of Seven' series at the Palace of Auburn Hills on February 8, 2017 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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Indiana Basketball: Top 10 NBA players of all-time

#2: George McGinnis

The 1969 Indiana Mr. Basketball winner, it was clear George McGinnis was destined for stardom as a high schooler as he led his Indianapolis-based Washington High School team to an undefeated season before departing for Bloomington. In B-town, McGinnis wasted no time showing everyone his immense skill and athleticism. In his one-and-done season with the Hoosiers, McGinnis scored 30 points a game to go along with his 14.7 rebounds.

George McGinnis began his professional career in the now-defunct ABA. McGinnis was an instant success in the ABA as he was an all-star in three out of his four seasons in the league. He was named the ABA Playoffs MVP in 1973 as he led the Pacers to a championship. His career-best season came two years later as he was awarded a league MVP award after scoring 29.8 points and grabbing 14.3 rebounds for the Pacers.

After the fall of the ABA, Mcginnis signed a six-year, 2.4 million dollar deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. In Philly, McGinnis did not slow down as he was an all-star in his first two years with the 76ers. He was named to the All-NBA first team in his first year in the City of Brotherly Love along with teammate Julius Erving.

In his second year, McGinnis and Erving led the 76ers to the NBA finals where they lost to the Portland Trail Blazers. Following the season, McGinnis was named on the All-NBA second team. After three successful seasons in Philadelphia, Mcginnis was traded to Denver. In his only year in Denver, Mcginnis was named an all-star for the final time in his career.

After McGinnis’s season with Denver, the struggling Pacers were looking for a marquee attraction to boost fan engagement and ticket sales. They thought they had found what they were looking for when they traded Alex English for McGinnis in 1978, however, this trade ended up being one of the most lopsided in NBA history as McGinnis was a shell of his former self back in Indiana while English went on to become one of the best NBA players ever during his 10-year stint with the Nuggets.

McGinnis retired after two seasons back in Indiana. His number was retired by the Pacers in 1985. In 2017, he was inaugurated in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was a quirky player as he throughout his whole career insisted on only shooting with one hand on the ball. (Seriously).

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