GREEN BAY --- Taking another step closer to the ultimate goal in a professional basketball career, Green Bay alumnus Alfonzo McKinnie '15 will compete for the 2019 NBA Championship this season, after his Golden State Warriors defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals 119-117 in overtime on Monday night to register the sweep. McKinnie earned the start in Monday night's victory, filling the void of injured Andre Iguodala before scoring a playoff career-high 12 points in 26 minutes of action.
McKinnie has averaged just over 11 minutes per game, playing for what he hopes is the fourth NBA Championship in five seasons for the Warriors. The Chicago native continues to add to his incredible basketball story, which went from Green Bay to Luxembourg to the NBA G-League, before finally getting his NBA opportunity with the Toronto Raptors. McKinnie then signed a 2-year deal with the best team the NBA has witnessed in decades, earning just over $1 million per season with the Warriors.
Golden State will face the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals, which currently has the Milwaukee Bucks leading the Raptors 2-1 in the series. Should the Bucks advance, McKinnie will have the opportunity to play in the NBA Finals less than 2 hours from his hometown of Chicago. A truly special story that continues to be written.
He is shooting just over 48 percent and is averaging 3.3 PPG this Postseason, but has enjoyed a significant bump in minutes recently with superstar Kevin Durant shelved due to injury. Durant's return to the team has still not been officially decided.
McKinnie and the Warriors will open Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals on Thursday, May 30.
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