Today is the 41st anniversary of one of the greatest individual single-game performances in the history of professional basketball.
On Jan. 12, 1974, the defending ABA champion Pacers hosted the Carolina Cougars. Pacers forward George McGinnis made sure it was a night that no one in attendance would ever forget.
McGinnis set a franchise record that still stands to this day by grabbing an astounding 37 rebounds. The Indianapolis native secured 16 offensive boards, also a franchise record.
In addition to his work on the boards, McGinnis also scored 52 points to lead Indiana to a 124-105 victory. He came just six points shy of his own franchise record of 58 points, set in an overtime game vs. Dallas on Nov. 28, 1972.
To put McGinnis' numbers into perspective, a Pacers player has scored 52 or more points only three times since the ABA-NBA merger. No Pacers player has ever amassed even 30 rebounds in a single game since the franchise joined the NBA.
McGinnis would go on to average 25.9 points and 15.0 rebounds in the 1973-74 season. He beat out Julius Erving for the ABA scoring title the next season, averaging a career-best 29.8 points per game.
Despite playing only seven seasons with the Pacers, McGinnis ranks seventh in franchise history in points, fifth in rebounds, and fourth in steals. McGinnis' number 30 jersey was retired on Nov. 2, 1985.