Lakers coach, Jack McKinney, suffered a brutal bike accident that nearly killed him as the resulting conditions limited his coaching career.
The TV show Winning Time is currently premiering and the fans are absolutely loving the episodes.
The show based on the rise of the Lakers as one of the NBA powerhouses and its founding base has attracted a lot of viewers.
From the series, the NBA fans, as well as other people, are knowing what it took for the franchise to become the super team that they are today.
Along with the rise in power and popularity, also came the sacrifices of many people.
One of the vital individuals of the Lakers’ uprise was Jack McKinney.
He brought the system of up-tempo play and other philosophies to the team and was thought to be the leading man of the team for years to come.
However, a fatal accident, only a few months later, saw the end of the coach’s time in the club.
Jack McKinney Lakers Coach Bike Accident Details
The former Lakers coach Jack McKinney suffered a gruesome bike accident that scrambled his brain and brought him on the verge of death.
It was a life-threatening injury that the coach escaped by threads of wire.
As the fifth episode also shows, McKinney was on his bike to meet Paul Westhead for a tennis game.
On the way, Jack nearly crashes into a car with a distracted driver but it was only a scene to play with the audience.
The actual happening took place after that scene where McKinney breaks to stop in front of the STOP sign.
He begins to brake but the brake gears lock up, thus resulting in an immediate stop of the vehicle.
As a result, he flew out of the bike and landed hard on the ground.
He suffered multiple injuries and brutal head damage that almost got him killed.
When Did Jack McKinney Die?
Jack McKinney died on September 25, 2018, at a hospice in Florida.
After he recovered from the injuries, he went on to manage Indiana Pacers and also won the NBA Coach of the Year award in 1981.
However, the damages eventually curled up and limited his actions and involvement.
Eventually, he passed away at the age of 83 as he spent the last years of his life going through treatment and care in a Bonita Springs-based hospice.