Bones McKinney

Bones McKinney
Personal information
Born(1919-01-01)January 1, 1919
Lowland, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedMay 16, 1997(1997-05-16) (aged 78)
Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High schoolDurham (Durham, North Carolina)
College
Playing career1946–1952
PositionSmall forward
Number17, 29
Coaching career1950–1971
Career history
As player:
19461951Washington Capitols
19511952Boston Celtics
As coach:
1950–1951Washington Capitols
1957–1965Wake Forest
1969–1971Carolina Cougars
Career highlights and awards
Career statistics
Points2,994
Rebounds373
Assists503
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Horace Albert "Bones" McKinney (January 1, 1919 – May 16, 1997) was an American professional basketball player and coach.[1]

A 6'6" small forward who played at both North Carolina State University (2 seasons) and the University of North Carolina (1 season, after U.S. Army service during World War II[2] interrupted his college career), McKinney had a six-year playing career in the NBA, most of them with the now-defunct Washington Capitols. He also played for the Boston Celtics. His final year with the Capitols (in the 1950–51 season), McKinney was a player-coach; the team folded midway through the season.

McKinney, known for his sideline antics, would later coach the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons, leading them to two Atlantic Coast Conference titles and an appearance in the Final Four in 1962.

McKinney also coached Carolina Cougars of the American Basketball Association from 1969 through 1971. He coached them to a 42–42 record during the 1969–70 season, good for third place in the East Division. The Cougars then lost in the first round of the 1970 ABA playoffs to the Indiana Pacers, 4 games to 0. As the 1970–71 season got under way, McKinney was named a vice president of the team. After a 17–25 start, halfway through the season McKinney was replaced as head coach by his assistant coach Jerry Steele. Steele also went 17-25 for the remainder of the season for a 34–50 record that failed to get the Cougars into the 1971 ABA playoffs. During the 1970–71 season, McKinney provided color commentary for the television broadcast of the 1971 ABA All Star Game. Subsequently, McKinney would have a long and successful career as a color analyst for television broadcasts of ACC basketball games.

McKinney's picture hangs in the North Carolina History Museum's North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and one of his basketball jerseys is also displayed there. He was also a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and an ordained minister of the Southern Baptist Convention.[3]

  1. ^ "Obituary of Horace "Bones" Albert McKinney ~ 1997". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  2. ^ McKinney, Horace (1988). Bones - Honk Your Horn if You Love Basketball. Garland Publications.
  3. ^ "The Erupting Antics of 'Mr. Bones,'" LIFE (magazine), February 22, 1960. Retrieved August 25, 2020