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Indiana basketball: 10 best NBA careers in Hoosiers history

By Josh Yourish

Jan 7, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Victor Oladipo (4) dribbles the ball up court in front of forward Cody Zeller (40) and Penn State Nittany Lions forward Sasa Borovnjak (21) during the second half at the Bryce Jordan Center. Indiana defeated Penn State 74-51. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Victor Oladipo (4) dribbles the ball up court in front of forward Cody Zeller (40) and Penn State Nittany Lions forward Sasa Borovnjak (21) during the second half at the Bryce Jordan Center. Indiana defeated Penn State 74-51. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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SPRINGFIELD, MA – SEPTEMBER 08: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2017 enshrinee George McGinnis speaks during the 2017 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on September 8, 2017 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA – SEPTEMBER 08: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2017 enshrinee George McGinnis speaks during the 2017 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on September 8, 2017 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

No. 3 best Indiana basketball NBA career: George McGinnis

  • Drafted: 1973 No. 22 overall (second round)
  • NBA games played: 528
  • ABA games played: 314
  • Career PPG: 20.2
  • 2x All-NBA
  • 3x All-ABA
  • 1975 ABA MVP

In just one season at Indiana, McGinnis averaged 29.9 points per game. Then, he was off to the ABA, not the NBA. McGinnis began his professional career with the Indiana Pacers. He quickly became a star in the fledgling league and led the Pacers to back-to-back championships.

In 1974-75 McGinnis averaged nearly 30 points a game for the Pacers and was named the ABA MVP. McGinnis then came over to the NBA, and reluctantly joined the Philadelphia 76ers, who owned his draft rights from the 1973 NBA draft, which was already two years into his pro career.

Though unhappy to end up in Philly, Mcginnis dominated and was named to the All-NBA First Team. He made three NBA All-Star games and in 2017 was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

McGinnis never won an NBA championship after his two ABA titles.

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