Tracy McGrady

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Lore & Background

McGrady entered the NBA straight out of high school and was selected as the ninth overall pick by the Toronto Raptors in the 1997 NBA draft. Beginning his career as a low-minute player, he gradually improved his role with the team, eventually forming a duo with his cousin Vince Carter. In 2000, he left the Raptors for the Orlando Magic, where he became one of the league's most prolific scorers and a candidate for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. In 2004, he was traded to the Houston Rockets, where he paired with center Yao Ming to help the Rockets become a perennial playoff team. His final seasons in the NBA were plagued by injuries, and he retired in 2013 following brief stints with the Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and the San Antonio Spurs.

In Their Own Story

The arena buzzed with tension on March 8, 2002, as McGrady faced the Washington Wizards. In one of the best games of his career, he poured in a season-high 50 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to secure a 99–96 victory. Earlier that year, during the All-Star Game, he created an unforgettable highlight by throwing the ball off the backboard to himself for an alley-oop in traffic, later explaining, 'There was only one guy back there... and he bit on the lob.' The following season saw him dominate the regular season with 32.1 points per game, yet heartbreak followed in the playoffs; after taking a commanding 3–1 lead against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons, he famously declared, 'It feels good to get in the second round,' only for the Magic to lose in seven games.

Reader's Guide

McGrady signed with the Orlando Magic on August 3, 2000, through a sign-and-trade deal that sent a future 2005 1st round draft pick (Fran Vázquez was later selected) to the Raptors. He signed a seven-year, $92.8 million contract with the Magic. He elected to join the Magic in part because he disliked his secondary role playing behind Vince Carter, in part so that he could return home to Florida, and in part to play with their other newly acquired free agent, Grant Hill. Hill would go on to play in only 47 games total throughout his tenure with the team, forcing McGrady into a more significant leadership and scoring role than anticipated.

Did You Know?

• McGrady was named the NBA Most Improved Player in 2001.
• He scored a career-high 62 points in a winning effort versus the Washington Wizards during the 2003–04 season.
• McGrady was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.

Early Life and High School Rise

Born on May 24, 1979, in Bartow, Florida, McGrady was raised by his mother Melanise Williford and grandmother Roberta. He played at Auburndale High School for three years before transferring to Mount Zion Christian Academy for his senior season. At Auburndale, he averaged 23.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4.9 blocks per game. His profile rose after the Adidas ABCD Camp, where he dunked on James Felton and declared himself the No. 1 player in the nation. At Mount Zion, he averaged 27.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 2.8 steals, and 2 blocks per game, earning McDonald's All-American, USA Today High School Basketball Player of the Year, and North Carolina's Mr. Basketball honors. He played in the 1997 Roundball Classic, scoring 13 points.

Toronto Raptors Era and Rookie Struggles

Selected ninth overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 1997 NBA draft, McGrady averaged only 13 minutes per game during his rookie year under coach Darrell Walker. He described the season as 'hell' due to loneliness and sleeping up to 20 hours a day. After Butch Carter replaced Walker, McGrady's minutes increased. In 1998–99, he formed an inseparable duo with cousin Vince Carter. By the 1999–2000 season, he was a starter, averaging 15.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game. The Raptors finished 45–37, making their first playoff appearance, but were swept by the New York Knicks.

Orlando Magic Stardom and Scoring Dominance

On August 3, 2000, McGrady signed with the Orlando Magic. In the 2000–01 season, he averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game, earning his first All-Star appearance, an All-NBA Second Team selection, and the NBA Most Improved Player Award. The Magic finished 43–39 as the East's seventh seed but lost to Milwaukee in four games; McGrady scored 42 points with 10 rebounds and 8 assists in Game 3. In 2001–02, he averaged 25.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game, earning an All-NBA First Team selection. He scored a season-high 50 points against the Washington Wizards on March 8, 2002. In 2002–03, he won his first scoring title with averages of 32.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game, finishing fourth in MVP voting. The Magic led Detroit 3–1 in the playoffs but lost in seven games. In 2003–04, he won a second consecutive scoring title with averages of 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game, despite Orlando missing the playoffs.

Houston Rockets Partnership and Post-Retirement Life

On June 29, 2004, McGrady was traded to the Houston Rockets alongside Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue, and Reece Gaines in exchange for Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, and Kelvin Cato. He signed a three-year, $63 million extension. In 2004–05, he averaged 25.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game, scoring 13 points in the final 35 seconds against the San Antonio Spurs on December 9. He later retired in 2013 after stints with the Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles and the San Antonio Spurs. From April to July 2014, he pitched for the Sugar Land Skeeters. Since retirement, he has worked as a basketball analyst for ESPN. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.