Tracy McGrady, a formidable pressure throughout his prime, loved a outstanding profession spanning almost 17 years, representing eight completely different groups. However, it was with the Houston Rockets that he really discovered his stride and achieved his biggest success. A seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA scoring champion, McGrady’s prowess on the court docket was plain, garnering him seven All-NBA picks and solidifying his standing as one of many sport’s elite gamers.
He has as soon as once more made headlines following his current look on the Pat Bev Podcast. In the episode, he confidently asserted that “real basketball people know” he was on par with the legendary Kobe Bryant throughout his prime. According to McGrady, there isn’t a doubt that he was among the many high gamers within the league, and his talent and expertise had been on par with the most effective of them. The solely issue that units him other than the Los Angeles Lakers icon is the absence of an NBA championship on his resume.
“That was a conversation of who was the best players in the league…It was me and Kobe — of barbershop talk and around the league. Real hoopers, real basketball people know,” McGrady stated.
McGrady’s offensive prowess was nothing in need of deadly, giving nightmares to quite a few opposing defenders who struggled to comprise him. His spectacular offensive bag of tips made him a pressure to be reckoned with on the court docket. However, regardless of his plain expertise, recurrent injuries posed a major impediment that in the end derailed his profession and prevented him from reaching even higher heights.
Following Tracy McGrady’s daring statements on the Pat Bev Podcast, NBA Twitter was set ablaze with combined reactions. Many followers and followers expressed their fury, criticizing McGrady for evaluating himself to the legendary Kobe Bryant and questioning his claims of being in the identical dialog because the Black Mamba.
Several pointed to McGrady’s playoff report and labeled him a ‘choker,’ suggesting that he faltered below strain in essential postseason video games. On the opposite hand, supporters of McGrady contended that in his prime, he certainly displayed the expertise and talent to go toe-to-toe with Bryant.
too dangerous he by no means made it out the first spherical, choker
— Mo (@SayNoMo0) July 26, 2023
Buddy must know his place Kobe is the 🐐
— Decu (@DecNFT) July 26, 2023
This is definitely correct. From 2001-2004, many followers thought-about T-Mac and Kobe to be in the identical tier.
Both gamers made 4 All-NBA groups.
T-Mac routinely carried crappy groups to the playoffs whereas Kobe had but to separate himself from Shaq’s shadow.
Kobe was nevertheless the extra…
— The NBA Realist (@nbarealist23) July 26, 2023
Peak McGrady went toe to toe with Kobe so sure
— Ali 🦉 (@aadel2004) July 26, 2023
Kobe himself stated T-Mac may do all the pieces Kobe may do.
It’s not a loopy take.
— Rob (@iamrobtv) July 26, 2023
Is he in his Paul Pierce period of the publish NBA profession?
— Arlong (@ramseyboltin) July 26, 2023
Winning a championship ring would undoubtedly have elevated Tracy McGrady’s standing and left a long-lasting impression on followers. However, the continuing debate about whether or not he could be in comparison with Bryant stays unsettled. Kobe’s 5 rings in his illustrious 20-season profession place him amongst basketball’s biggest, solidifying his legendary standing, whereas McGrady’s distinctive expertise and accolades, coupled with playoff disappointments, depart room for continued dialogue.
