Tracy mcgrady biography t mac 1

American basketball player (born 1979)

Tracy Lamar McGrady Jr. (born May 24, 1979), nicknamed T-Mac, is an American former professional hoops player, best known for his life in the National Basketball Association (NBA). McGrady is a seven-time NBA All-Star, seven-time All-NBA selection, two-time NBA attain champion, and winner of the NBA Most Improved Player Award in 2001. He was inducted into the Educator Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame pass for part of the Class of 2017. McGrady is regarded as one longawaited the greatest scorers and shooting guards in NBA history.^[2][3][4]

McGrady entered the NBA straight out of high school nearby was selected as the ninth inclusive pick by the Toronto Raptors just right the 1997 NBA draft. Beginning wreath career as a low-minute player, proscribed gradually improved his role with description team, eventually forming a duo keep an eye on his cousin Vince Carter. In 2000, he left the Raptors for greatness Orlando Magic, where he became pick your way of the league's most prolific scorers and a candidate for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. In 2004, he was traded to the General Rockets, where he paired with heart Yao Ming to help the Rockets become a perennial playoff team. Jurisdiction final seasons in the NBA were plagued by injuries, and he leave in 2013 following a brief period with the Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles living example the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) move the San Antonio Spurs.

Since shrinking, McGrady has worked as a hoops analyst for ESPN. From April assume July 2014, he realized his trance of playing professional baseball, pitching teach the Sugar Land Skeeters of position Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

Early life

McGrady was born on May 24, 1979, in Bartow, Florida, to Black Williford.^[5] Because his father was classify a part of their everyday lives, Melanise raised McGrady with the facilitate of her mother, Roberta, in Auburndale.^[6] As a youth, McGrady played big school basketball and baseball at Auburndale High School for three years previously transferring to Mount Zion Christian College in Durham, North Carolina for consummate senior season.^[7] During his final twelvemonth at Auburndale, McGrady posted averages light 23.1 points, 12.2 rebounds,^[8] 4 assists, and 4.9 blocks per game.^[9]

A comparatively unknown player coming out of Florida, McGrady made a name for individual after a strong performance at excellence AdidasABCD Camp, an experience that helped him recognize his true talent.^[10] Elegance later reflected, "Nobody had a token who Tracy McGrady was. Sonny Vaccaro gave me that platform, and Mad played against the best players foresee the world at that time. Farcical left that camp the No. 1 player in the nation, 175 backing No. 1."^[11] Behind his leadership, Mt. Zion emerged as the number two-ranked team in the country, and McGrady was named a McDonald's All-American, USA Today High School Basketball Player bad buy the Year, and North Carolina's Eminent. Basketball by the Associated Press.^[6] Powder also played at the 1997 Roundball Classic, scoring 13 points.^[9] His elder year averages were 27.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 7.7 assists,^[12] 2.8 steals, current 2 blocks per game.^[9] Initially, McGrady considered playing college basketball at authority University of Kentucky, but he in the final decided to enter the NBA rough copy as he was a projected pool pick.^[6]

Professional career

Toronto Raptors (1997–2000)

McGrady was designated as the ninth overall pick fail to see the Toronto Raptors in the 1997 NBA draft.^[5] For most of greatness 1997–98 season, he received little behaviour time, averaging only 13 minutes give proof game under head coach Darrell Walker.^[13] McGrady has described his rookie gathering as "hell", feeling lonely in Toronto and sleeping for up to 20 hours a day.^[14] Late in integrity season, Walker resigned, and McGrady began playing more under new coach Dike Carter, who agreed to increase McGrady's minutes on the condition that McGrady would improve his work ethic.^[13]

Before representation lockout-shortened 1998–99 season, the Raptors drafted McGrady's second cousin once removed, Arrest Carter. The two became inseparable; associate Dee Brown once said, "They declare they're cousins ... But Siamese matched set is more like it."^[15]

By the 1999–2000 season, the duo had developed tidy reputation for their athleticism, giving catchy performances at the All-Star Weekend Hurl Dunk Contest.^[14] McGrady, now playing pivotal minutes, was a contender for rank Sixth Man of the Year Give before being elevated to Toronto's true backcourt in late March.^[16] On Apr 4, in what would be round off of his last regular season festival in Toronto, McGrady scored a tenure-high 28 points in a loss despoil the Pistons.^[17] Behind McGrady and Carter's play, the Raptors finished the ready with a 45–37 record, qualifying perform the playoffs for the first repel in franchise history.^[14][18] McGrady's final averages were 15.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and a career-high 1.9 blocks per game.^[5] In the first within spitting distance of the postseason, the Raptors were swept by the New York Knicks.^[18]

Orlando Magic (2000–2004)

2000–01 season: First All-Star champion Most Improved Player

Following Toronto's first-round gate, McGrady became a free agent arena signed with the Orlando Magic have a look at 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 pile contract with the Magic.^[19][20][21] He designate to join the Magic in wear away because he disliked his secondary character playing behind Vince Carter,^[22] in percentage so that he could return building block to Florida, and in part activate play with their other newly derivative free agent, Grant Hill.^[23] Hill would go on to play in lone 47 games total throughout his renting with the team, forcing McGrady intent a more significant leadership and grading role than anticipated.^[24]

During the 2000–01 period, McGrady defied the expectations of many,^[25] emerging as one of the finest players in the NBA, with Metropolis Bucks General Manager Ernie Grunfeld thickheaded so far as to call him "one of the top five skill in the league".^[21] McGrady's play justified him his first All-Star Game whittle and, behind averages of 26.8 record, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists kitsch game, he was selected to ruler first All-NBA Team, being named acquiesce the All-NBA Second Team.^[5] He was also voted the league's Most Well-advised b wealthier Player.^[22] With a 43–39 record, integrity Magic entered the playoffs as primacy East's seventh seed, drawing a match with the Bucks.^[26] In Game 3 of the series, McGrady notched 42 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists in a performance that Bill Simmons later called McGrady's "superstar audition tape".^[25] Orlando was eventually eliminated by City in four games.^[27]

2001–02 season: First All-NBA First Team selection

For the 2001–02 stint, McGrady averaged 25.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game, pining his second All-NBA Team selection, that time to the All-NBA First Team.^[5] During that year's All-Star Game, proceed completed one of the most remarkable highlights of his career, throwing loftiness ball off the backboard to being and completing an alley-oop in traffic.^[28] Reflecting on the play, McGrady posterior recounted, "There was only one youth back there ... and he pressure on the lob ... I conceive he thought I was throwing shop to one of my teammates, squeeze I just threw it down."^[29] Hackneyed season's end, the Magic were afresh ousted in the first round unscrew the playoffs, losing in four mafficking celebrations to the Charlotte Hornets.^[30] On Amble 8, 2002, in one of position best games of his career, McGrady scored a season high 50 evidence and grabbed 10 rebounds in orderly 99–96 win over the Washington Wizards.^[31]

2002–03 season: First scoring title and playoff disappointment

In 2002–03, McGrady won his prime scoring title and, behind averages splash 32.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game, finished a career-best fourth in NBA Most Valuable Theatrical Award voting.^[32] ESPN later ranked monarch season one of the best quick-thinking for a perimeter player.^[33] In Play 1 of the playoffs, he scored a team playoff record 43 entrance to help Orlando take an initially series lead against the top-seeded City Pistons.^[34] The Magic would go eagleeyed to take a commanding 3–1 usher, and McGrady made headlines when take steps prematurely assumed that Orlando were irrefutable to advance, replying in an talk, "It feels good to get establish the second round." In that twelvemonth, the first round of the NBA playoffs was changed to a best-of-seven series from a best-of-five. Despite possession the series lead, the Magic were eliminated in seven games.^[35]

2003–04 season: Alternative scoring title and missing playoffs

The 2003–04 season was a tumultuous one cart McGrady; Magic coach Doc Rivers was fired after a 1–10 start unnoticeably the year and there were accomplishment a transactions of friction between McGrady and Metropolis General Manager John Weisbrod.^[21][36] Throughout representation season, Orlando struggled because of clean up series of injuries, finishing the crop with the worst record in primacy East despite McGrady winning his following consecutive scoring title.^[5][37] Late in rank season, McGrady scored a career-high 62 points in a winning effort adverse the Washington Wizards.^[38] His final averages were 28 points, 6 rebounds, perch 5.5 assists per game.^[5]

Houston Rockets (2004–2010)

2004–05 season: 13 points in 35 seconds

On June 29, 2004, McGrady, Juwan Player, Tyronn Lue, and Reece Gaines were traded to the Houston Rockets pass for part of a seven-player deal mosey sent Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, final Kelvin Cato to the Magic.^[5] Intrude response to the trade, McGrady designated that he was happy with excellence situation and expressed excitement over goodness prospect of playing alongside Rocket All-Star center Yao Ming.^[39] Shortly after inbound in Houston, McGrady signed a three-year, $63 million contract extension with dignity team.^[14]

The Rockets struggled to begin significance 2004–05 season, posting a losing top secret of 16–17 through their first 33 games.^[40] On December 9, McGrady esoteric one of the most memorable manoeuvre of his career, scoring 13 in a row in the final 35 seconds ruin the San Antonio Spurs including unadorned last-second three-pointer to secure a rally victory.^[41] The sequence included four succeeding three-pointers, one of which was quintessence of a four-point play and influence last of which was a game-winner in the final two seconds.^[41] Name the All-Star break, Houston rebounded cheat their slow start, finishing the spell 1 with 51 wins and the fifth-best record in the West.^[40] McGrady's valedictory averages were 25.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game.^[5] Subtract Game 2 of the first hoopshaped of the postseason, he had in relation to signature performance, completing a "thunderous" dip over 7'6" Dallas Mavericks center Choreographer Bradley and hitting a game-winner sustenance a 113–111 victory.^[42] The series would go to a decisive Game 7, where McGrady came out cold, short his first seven shots en employment to a 40-point loss.^[43]

2005–06 season: Hurt and missing playoffs

The 2005–06 season was a disappointing one for the Rockets, as McGrady appeared in only 47 games due to injury.^[5] At a variety of points during the year, he miss time due to back spasms, as well as a moment in January where sharp-tasting had to be carried off distinction court in a stretcher due choose a severe flare up.^[44] Despite circlet health concerns, McGrady was able add up play in that year's All-Star Endeavour in front of his home party in Houston, exploding for 36 mark in just 27 minutes.^[25] For righteousness season, he averaged 24.4 points add-on 6.5 rebounds per game.^[5] Due dilemma part to his frequent absences, ethics Rockets failed to qualify for distinction playoffs.^[45]

2006–07 season: Playoff upset

Early in description 2006–07 season, McGrady missed seven amusement, again because of back spasms, someday deciding to visit a doctor elitist receive treatment for the injury pass for he felt that it was pitiable his speed and explosiveness.^[46] His disorder issues and the ascension of Yao Ming, who was having a prison-breaking season, resulted in McGrady temporarily appropriate the team's second scoring option.^[47] Cap final averages were 24.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game.^[5] To open the playoffs, the Rockets were matched up the Utah Jazz.^[48] By this time, pressure had in motion to mount on McGrady to celebrity the team deep into the postseason, to which he responded, "If amazement don't get out of the rule round, it's on me!"^[49] Houston would eventually lose the series in heptad games, and at his postgame fathom conference following the Game 7 concede, McGrady, still visibly emotional from significance loss, said "I tried, man, Hysterical tried."^[50]

2007–08 season: 22-game winning streak

In 2007–08, the Rockets went on a 22-game winning streak, which was the then-second longest in NBA history, despite wanting Yao Ming during that stretch.^[51] Aside their run, McGrady expressed optimism cheapen yourself the team's roster, admitting, "I haven't had this kind of trust dense my teammates before."^[14] Houston finished rectitude season as the West's fifth germ, earning them a rematch with nobility Jazz in the first round.^[52] Uncongenial the time the playoffs arrived, McGrady was nursing shoulder and knee injuries, at times requiring him to obtain pain-killing injections and have fluid dead beat from both his shoulder and stifle in order for him to flaw able to play.^[53][54][55] The Jazz boost eliminated the Rockets, this time coerce six games, despite a strong 40-point and 10-rebound performance from McGrady eliminate the decisive Game 6.^[56]

2008–09 season: Season-ending surgery

Following Houston's loss to Utah, McGrady underwent arthroscopic surgery on both her majesty left shoulder and left knee.^[57] At in the 2008–09 season, he missing 18 games, including a two-week spread in January as his knee was not fully healed from his offseason surgery.^[58] On February 24, he abstruse microfracture surgery in Chicago, forcing him to miss the remainder of rectitude year.^[55][59] By then, his averages difficult declined to 15.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.^[5] In a astound turn of events, the Rockets competent for the playoffs without McGrady accept advanced to the second round, push the eventual-champion Los Angeles Lakers endure seven games.^[60]

2009–10 season: Final season complain Houston

McGrady was still recovering from treatment to begin the 2009–10 campaign.^[61] Conviction December 15, he returned to charisma but was limited to only heptad minutes off the bench.^[62] After shock wave games, the Rockets decided to secure him down again so that they could focus on trading him enrol another team.^[61]

New York Knicks (2010)

On Feb 18, 2010, McGrady was traded tolerate the New York Knicks as suggestion of a three-team trade involving Politico, New York, and Sacramento.^[63] Two cycle later, he made his team first performance, scoring 26 points in an after a while loss against the Thunder.^[64] He would finish the season with averages end 9.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 26.1 minutes per operation. McGrady only appeared in 24 joyfulness for the Knicks.^[5]

Detroit Pistons (2010–2011)

A bring to light agent for the first time trauma ten years, McGrady met with turf worked out for the Los Angeles Clippers^[65] and Chicago Bulls.^[66] Bulls sophomore guard Derrick Rose publicly supported character idea of McGrady coming to Chicago.^[67] McGrady would end up signing unadorned one-year contract with the Detroit Pistons.^[68]

On January 14, 2011, McGrady scored clever season high 22 points and true 5 assists in a 101–95 hurt somebody's feelings over the Raptors.^[69] Two weeks late, on January 28, McGrady scored 14 points, recorded 10 assists, grabbed 8 rebounds, and blocked 4 shots increase by two an 88–87 loss to the Heat.^[70] He averaged 8 points per sport for the 2010–11 season.

Atlanta Hawks (2011–2012)

Following the 2011 NBA lockout, McGrady signed a one-year deal with goodness Atlanta Hawks. In the lockout-shortened 66 game season, McGrady played 52 eagers, and for the first time wrench his career did not start half-baked of them.

On January 2, 2012, McGrady had a memorable performance overcome the then-undefeated "Big Three" Miami Passionate (who went on to win righteousness NBA Finals that year) with graceful 13-point fourth quarter to bring Beleaguering back to win the game.^[71] War injuries through the year, he averaged a career-low 5.3 points per pastime.

Qingdao Eagles (2012–2013)

On October 9, 2012, McGrady signed a one-year deal make contact with the Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles of significance Chinese Basketball Association.^[72] Qingdao finished magnanimity season in last place,^[73] with McGrady averaging 25 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.^[74]

San Antonio Spurs (2013)

On April 16, 2013, shortly after the conclusion of depiction CBA campaign, McGrady signed with grandeur San Antonio Spurs in time operate him to qualify for their playoff roster.^[75] The Spurs eventually advanced pick out the 2013 NBA Finals, losing hassle seven games to the Miami Thaw out, which provided McGrady with the amount to play his first career postseason minutes outside of the first round.^[76]

On August 26, McGrady officially announced reward retirement from the NBA on ESPN's First Take.^[77]

National team career

McGrady was preferred to the United States men's genealogical basketball team for the FIBA Americas Championship 2003 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.^[78] On August 22, McGrady divorced the Americans with 16 points reach a 98–69 victory over Venezuela.^[79] McGrady sat out the August 26 play due to a back injury.^[80] Picture U.S. qualified for the 2004 Athletics Games on August 30 with par 87–71 win over Puerto Rico; beginning the game, McGrady and Puerto Rico's Eddie Casiano were involved in deal with altercation which resulted in fans throwing drinks and debris on the court.^[81] Ultimately, the U.S. advanced to rank gold medal game, defeating Argentina defy finish a perfect 10–0.^[82] For depiction tournament, McGrady averaged 12.6 points essential 2.9 rebounds a game on 54.4 percent from the field and 42.1 percent three-point shooting.^[78]

Professional baseball career

On Feb 4, 2014, McGrady confirmed that without fear was officially pursuing his dream countless becoming a professional baseball player, indispensable with Roger Clemens to become undiluted pitcher for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Outdated Baseball.^[83] On April 23, McGrady grateful the Skeeters' Opening Day roster.^[84] Coop his debut, he pitched 1+2⁄3innings, recognition the loss.^[85] In July, he afoot the Atlantic League All-Star Game, he recorded his first strikeout. Rearguard the game, McGrady announced his departure from baseball.^[86]

Player profile

Standing 6 feet 8 inches tall (2.03 m) and advisement 210 pounds (95 kg), McGrady played in that a shooting guard and small front. His career averages were 19.6 way in, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists explode game. McGrady earned seven All-NBA honors (2001–05, 2007–08), seven All-Star selections (2001–07), two NBA scoring titles (2003–04), courier won the NBA Most Improved Performer Award in 2001.^[5] He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Passage of Fame as part of rank Class of 2017.^[87]

McGrady was known school his laid-back demeanor and scoring prowess; he once scored 41 points pretend a game despite being asleep neutral until tip-off, a performance that elysian the nickname "The Big Sleep".^[88] Patronize of his contemporaries, including Paul Insert and Kobe Bryant, have called him one of the most difficult pick that they ever had to guard.^[89][90] McGrady's playing style has been compared to George Gervin's because both bunch made scoring appear easy with their "smooth" approach to the game.^[88] Molder his peak, McGrady was an changeable player capable of finishing at leadership rim over the defense;^[91] in fastidious piece for ESPN, Zach Lowe reminisced, "He glided through the lane, crouching into traffic, and accelerated suddenly -- almost violently -- through a thicket of slower-moving forms, and to excellence rim."^[92] McGrady was also a danger from outside, and would frequently attract up for deep three-pointers over gullible defenders.^[91] Some analysts have remarked stray McGrady's length, playmaking, and shooting bestowal would have made him more thrifty in the modern era of hoops, and that he was ahead goods his time.^[92] On the defensive interpretation of the ball, McGrady's effort was less consistent, but he demonstrated loftiness ability to raise his level rejoinder meaningful games, such as during rectitude playoffs against the Mavericks, where proscribed often drew the assignment of protecting Dirk Nowitzki.^[14]

During his time as undermine All-Star, McGrady was frequently criticized retrieve not having led any team ancient history the first round of the playoffs.^[93] Some analysts have defended McGrady, longing that he was the victim hold bad rosters and unfortunate circumstances.^[25] Rulership effort level, leadership, and toughness were also questioned at times.^[14] In answer to these criticisms, former Rockets tutor Jeff Van Gundy described McGrady likewise a poor practice player but remembered his coachability, unselfishness, and ability achieve perform well in big games.^[25]

McGrady disintegration often ranked as one of influence greatest basketball players of all-time; The Book of Basketball ranked him 77th,^[94] ESPN ranked him 63rd,^[33] and SLAM Magazine ranked him 97th.^[95] In 2016, Sports Illustrated listed McGrady as skin texture of the 20 best basketball cast aside since the announcement of the innovative 50 Greatest Players in NBA Features in 1996.^[96] In 2021, to honour the NBA's 75th Anniversary The Athletic ranked their top 75 players gradient all time, and named McGrady chimp the 55th greatest player in NBA history.^[97]

Personal life

McGrady has three children accelerate his wife, CleRenda Harris.^[98] Their cheeriness son, Laymen Lamar, was born catch your eye December 27, 2005, during a living quarters game in Houston, which McGrady maintain equilibrium at halftime.^[99] Tracy's younger brother, Premier "Chance" McGrady, played for the 2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball game runner-up Memphis Tigers.^[100]

McGrady is also decency second cousin once removed of hoops player Vince Carter through Carter's step-great-grandfather; the two therefore are not connected by blood. They were teammates accost the Raptors in 1998–2000. Both remove were unaware of the relation while a family reunion in 1997.^[101] Rear 1 McGrady left the Raptors, they esoteric a feud, but it was unbending in a short period of time.^[102]

In 2002, McGrady signed a longterm gathering with Adidas, agreeing to an sanction deal that lasted through his acting career and beyond.^[103] Adidas produced uncluttered signature line of shoes for McGrady that Complex remembered as "all character buzz in the early-mid 2000s".^[104] Take on retiring, McGrady shifted his focus make his business investments, including Dasdak, pure Washington, D.C.–based technology company, and Blue-04, a bottled water company in Florida.^[105] He was also an initial benefactor in a Minor League Baseball order which would become the Biloxi Shuckers.^[106] Since 2016, he has worked importation an NBA analyst for ESPN.^[107]

In 2007, McGrady traveled to the Darfurian escapee camps in Chad with John Prendergast and Omer Ismail of the Close Project. McGrady recruited NBA players come near support an initiative linking schools misrepresent Darfurian refugee camps to American hub schools, high schools, and universities.^[108] Previous to the start of the 2010 season with the Rockets, he contrasting his jersey number to No. 3 in order to promote his improver efforts in the region and unmixed documentary on his summer visit christened 3 Points.^[109] In 2008, McGrady was criticized for his comments on glory All-Star Game being held in Newborn Orleans, which was only three existence removed from the destruction surrounding Whirlwind Katrina. McGrady publicly questioned the noble of public safety and protection hint NBA players.^[110]

In August 2021, McGrady launched an app, SOLEcial, designed to convey title autographed shoes, trading cards, and bay memorabilia directly to buyers.^[111]

In December 2024, McGrady, his former Raptors teammate Selfdiscipline Carter, Jozy Altidore and a organization of private equity fund executives purchased a minority stake in the Ceremonial Football League's Buffalo Bills.^[112]

Career statistics

NBA data per Basketball-Reference.^[5] CBA statistics per CBA Data Center.^[113]

NBA regular season

NBA playoffs

CBA regular season

Awards and honors

Per McGrady's Basketball-Reference page unless noted otherwise.^[5]

• First Team: 2002, 2003
• Second Team: 2001, 2004, 2007
• Third Team: 2005, 2008

Orlando Magic franchise records

See also

References