A Tribute to Billy McKinney: The Crazed Hummingbird

TLDRBilly McKinney, also known as the Crazed Hummingbird, was a talented and high-scoring basketball player who made a significant impact on Northwestern University's basketball program. Today, Northwestern honors McKinney's contributions by retiring his jersey number, marking the first jersey retirement in the university's history. McKinney's legacy extends beyond basketball, as he also had a successful career as an NBA executive and served as the mayor of Zion, his hometown.

Key insights

Billy McKinney was a talented and high-scoring basketball player who made the players around him better.

McKinney holds the Northwestern record for scoring 1,000 points and starting 98 consecutive games.

He led the Wildcats to upsets over number seven Kentucky and number two Michigan.

McKinney played nearly 500 games in the NBA and had a successful career as an NBA executive.

He was elected as the mayor of Zion in 2019.

Q&A

What is Billy McKinney known for?

—Billy McKinney is known for being a talented and high-scoring basketball player at Northwestern University.

Did Billy McKinney have a successful NBA career?

—Yes, Billy McKinney played nearly 500 games in the NBA and also had a successful career as an NBA executive.

What is the significance of retiring Billy McKinney's jersey number?

—Retiring Billy McKinney's jersey number is a significant honor, as it marks the first jersey retirement in the history of Northwestern University.

What other accomplishments did Billy McKinney have?

—In addition to his basketball career, Billy McKinney served as the mayor of Zion, his hometown, in 2019.

How did Billy McKinney make an impact on the Northwestern basketball program?

—Billy McKinney made a significant impact on the Northwestern basketball program by leading the team to upsets over top-ranked opponents and setting records for scoring and consecutive game starts.

Timestamped Summary

00:01Billy McKinney was known as the Crazed Hummingbird and was a talented high-scoring basketball player.

00:32Northwestern honors McKinney by retiring his jersey number, marking the first jersey retirement in the university's history.

00:52McKinney scored 1,000 points and started 98 consecutive games for Northwestern, setting records in the process.

01:10He led the Wildcats to upsets over number seven Kentucky and number two Michigan.

01:35McKinney played nearly 500 games in the NBA and had a successful career as an NBA executive.

01:47In 2019, he was elected as the mayor of Zion, his hometown.

02:21Today, Northwestern recognizes the bond between McKinney and the current basketball team.

06:05In his speech, McKinney emphasizes the importance of treating others with dignity and respect.

Browse more