Bones McKinney
Washington Capitols Player-Coach | NBA Player & Coach | All-BAA Forward
Bones McKinney was born on January 1, 1919, in Lowlands, North Carolina. He played college basketball at North Carolina and became one of the top forwards during the early years of the BAA.
McKinney earned All-BAA First Team honors in 1947 and All-BAA Second Team honors in 1949 as a player. He later became player-coach of the Washington Capitols for the 1950-1951 NBA season.
McKinney coached all 35 games the Capitols played that season and finished with a 10-25 record before the franchise folded during the season.
Coach McKinney passed away on May 16, 1997, at the age of 78.
- Overall Coaching Record: 10-25
Coaching Career
Bones McKinney became player-coach of the Washington Capitols for the 1950-1951 NBA season after previously playing for the franchise under Red Auerbach and Bob Feerick.
McKinney went 10-25 over 35 games. Washington was in sixth place in the Eastern Division when financial problems caused the franchise to fold during the season.
The season included an important moment in NBA history when Earl Lloyd made his league debut for Washington on October 31, 1950, becoming the first African American player to appear in an NBA game.
McKinney also appeared in 10 games as a player during the season. His Washington stint became his only head coaching position in the NBA, although he later coached professional basketball outside the league.
Notable Players Coached
- Earl Lloyd
- First African American player to appear in an NBA game
- 1955 NBA Champion
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame contributor
- Bill Sharman
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 4× NBA Champion as a player
- 8× NBA All-Star
- Future NBA and ABA Championship head coach