George McGinnis, ABA champion and Hall of Famer, died at the age of 73

George McGinnis, a two-time ABA champion with the Indiana Pacers who also found success after making the jump to the NBA, died at the age of 73.

McGinnis died Thursday morning, according to the Pacers. He was hospitalized after having a heart collapse at home last week.

“George McGinnis shaped so many of the fondest basketball memories for generations of Hoosiers,” stated the Simon family and Pacers Sports & Entertainment in a joint statement. “He was the epitome of an Indiana basketball legend, a champion, and a Hall of Famer.” But he was much more. George was a member of the family. George has been as identified with our Pacers club as anybody else. He is a strong advocate for his fellow ABA players and a present, happy presence throughout the team. He will be deeply missed, and all of us at Pacers Sports & Entertainment will be praying for George and his family.”

McGinnis spent two seasons with the Pacers in the ABA and the NBA. He won the ABA championship with the Pacers in 1972 and 1973, and was voted playoff MVP during the second championship run. He also shared the ABA MVP award with Julius Erving in 1974-75, when he averaged a career-high 29.8 points per game.

He entered the NBA in 1975 with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he was an All-Star in consecutive seasons until leaving in 1978. McGinnis was transferred to the Denver Nuggets (1978-80), where he earned another All-Star selection, before concluding his career with the Pacers (1980-82).

McGinnis was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017, and the Pacers retired his No. 30 jersey.

McGinnis was a third-team All-American at Indiana in 1970-71 after leading the Big Ten in scoring and rebounds that season.

McGinnis will be buried privately, but a memorial service would be performed next year, according to the Pacers.