On Nov. 8, 1979, with the Lakers at 9-4 in their young season, McKinney was riding his bicycle in the Palos Verdes neighborhood of Los Angeles to play tennis with Paul Westhead, his friend and Lakers assistant coach.

Approaching a stop sign, the gears on his bicycle locked; McKinney flew over the handlebars, and his head smashed into the concrete, causing a serious concussion. He was in a coma for three days. While he was recovering, Dr. Buss named Westhead the interim coach.