Players

Billy McKinney

Year Inducted: 1988

Category: Players

Schools / Organizations: Zion-Benton High School
Northwestern University
NBA: Kings, Jazz, Nuggets, Bulls

Biography: Billy McKinney played high school basketball at Zion-Benton where he was an honorable mention all-stater, but McKinney really blossomed when he attended Northwestern University. He became Northwestern’s all-time scoring leader during his junior year. All four seasons as a Wildcat, McKinney was the team’s leading scorer. By years McKinney scored 387 (73-74), 473 (74-75), 533 (75-76) and 516 (76-77). He was invited to try out for the 1976 Olympic team. He was named to all-tourney teams at the Sun Bowl (1974), Far West Classic (1975) and Joe Lapchick Tourney (1976). McKinney started 98 straight games for Northwestern before missing the Ohio State game with an injury as a senior. Against Illinois in the Assembly Hall, McKinney made 12 straight shots from the field. When the Wildcats defeated No. 2 Michigan in his senior year, McKinney outscored All-American Rickey Green 29-15. McKinney’s career total for the Wildcats in 1,900. Billy spent 7 years in the NBA as a player with several teams before he finished with the Bulls.  He then spent 32 years in various executive roles with the NBA, notably with the Bulls and the Timberwolves, Sonics, and Bucks.  In 2019, Billy was elected mayor of his hometown, Zion, IL.