In addition to the Pacers’ impressive 97-94 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday afternoon, the franchise took the time to celebrate Hall of Famer George McGinnis.
The 6-foot-8 from George Washington High School in Indianapolis, helped the Pacers to two ABA titles – in 1972 and 1973. The latter year he was named Most Valuable Player in the finals and in 1975, the final year of his first of two stints with the team, he was ABA MVP.
Last month, McGinnis was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.
Select McGinnis t-shirts were thrown out during a timeout.
“The Hall of Fame waited far too long but they finally figured it out, and they put George in this September,” Mark Boyle, the longtime Radio Voice of the Pacers, said during the halftime celebration.
Among those joining McGinnis at half court for the celebration was coach Slick Leonard and his wife, Nancy, more than a half-dozen of his teammates, trainer David Craig, and the late Mel Daniels’ wife, Cece.
After McGinnis said a few words, thrilled and honored “to finally be called,” Boyle turned everyone’s attention to the video board as a photo of a Range Rover was shown.
Pacers owner Herb Simon and Pacers Sports & Entertainment gave a car to Reggie Miller (Bentley) and Tamika Catchings (Lexus) for retirement. In recognition of his accomplishments and contributions, the brand new Range Rover is now his.
McGinnis now has “Hall of Fame” at the bottom of his banner that hangs from the rafters of Bankers Life Fieldhouse, just like Reggie Miller, Mel Daniels, Roger Brown, and Leonard.
Watch the halftime celebration below (via @Pacers):
ICYMI, here’s our halftime celebration honoring George McGinnis on his @HoopHall enshrinement: pic.twitter.com/R17fPpxs2F
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) October 29, 2017