Coach Jack McKinney’s bike accident has piqued the public’s interest as the HBO show Winning Time included the incident in its episode.
The program aired on HBO on March 6, 2022, and you can watch it now.
HBO’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty episode 5 focuses on Los Angeles Jack McKinney.
The episode displays several epic moments from the 1979 NBA season and one of them is McKinney’s terrible bike accident.
Coach: Jack McKinney Lakers Bike Accident Linked To His Cause Of Death
Unfortunately, Coach Jack McKinney Lakers were involved in a bike accident, which is said to have contributed to his death. The episode shows, coach McKinney riding his bike on his way to see assistant coach Paul Westhead.
Suddenly, a piece of his bike fell off, and he was knocked unconscious in the street.
According to The New York Times, on November 8, 1979, following a 9-4 start to the Lakers’ season, McKinney was riding his bike in Los Angeles’ Palos Verdes area to meet Westhead for a game of tennis.
McKinney’s bike gears locked as he approached a stop sign, and he was thrown over the handlebars onto the asphalt. His skull collided with the concrete, resulting in brain damage and a three-day coma.
McKinney’s health and career suffered long-term consequences as a result of the tragedy. He was hired as the Lakers’ head coach for the first time in 1979.
He was the Lakers’ coach for 14 games before suffering significant brain injuries in a bicycle accident. However, he was replaced by Paul Westhead, who led the club to the NBA title with a rookie called Magic Johnson.
Following the accident, McKinney suffered from memory loss and other neurological difficulties for the rest of his life. He died at the age of 83 in September 2018.
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Meet Jack McKinney’s Wife Cranny McKinney And Net Worth
Jack McKinney was married to his wife, Cranny McKinney, however, there is no detailed information about her online. The Coach had an estimated net worth of $4million at the time of his death.
He served different clubs as a coach in his lifetime. Some of the clubs are The Indiana Pacers, Kansas City Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Saint Joseph’s, and many more.
McKinney has amassed a fortune during his career, but he never revealed his wealth and assets to the public.
According to HBO.com, Cranny is honest, witty, and tenacious. “She is no stranger to uprooting her family, and she does it one more time, taking the family to Los Angeles for what may be the fulfillment of their lifetime ambition.”
We will update you with further information about his family as soon as possible.
What Happened To Jack McKinney?
Jack McKinney was involved in the tragic bicycle accident on November 8, 1979. He begins to brake in front of the stop sign, but the brake gears lock up, resulting in an abrupt stop of the vehicle.
As a result, he flew off of the bike and laboriously landed on the underbelly. He had a number of mishaps and horrific head injuries that almost killed him.
McKinney was in a coma for three days at Torrance’s Little Company of Mary Hospital.
Every viewer of Winning Time has expressed their feelings about the incident on social media. “Completely gobsmacked with Jack McKinney’s bicycle accident,” one of them says.
Similarly, other people said they had to close their eyes to avoid the scene. That it was realistic and touching.