Tracy McGrady
From Hoopedia
| Tracy McGrady |
|---|
 |
| Position Shooting Guard/Small Forward |
| Nickname(s) "T-Mac" |
| League NBA |
| Height 6 ft 8 |
| Weight 223 lbs |
| Team Houston Rockets |
| Born May 24, 1979 in Bartow, Florida |
| High School Mount Zion Christian Academy |
| Drafted 9th overall in 1997 by the Toronto Raptors |
| Pro Career 1997 - |
| Former Teams Toronto Raptors (1997-2000) Orlando Magic (2000-2004) |
Tracy Lamar McGrady (born May 24,1979) is a NBA Shooting Guard/Small Forward for the Houston Rockets
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Early Life
Tracy Lamar McGrady, Jr. was born on May 24, 1979 in Bartow, Florida. He was raised by his mother, Melanise Williford, who was just out of high school. His father was only interested in Tracy’s welfare check. Thus his grandmother shared the responsibilities of raising Tracy. They were both called "Mom" by this child.
McGrady discovered his prowess at sports at an early age. He first started playing Baseball. He was great player, with a blazing fastball and a powerful swing. He was the best player in his town. Tracy appeared headed for a career in baseball, but another ball came into his hands. He always played basketball, but did not take it seriously until Penny Hardaway joined the Orlando Magic. His play inspired Tracy and Hardaway became his hero.
"T-Mac" then played for Auburndale High School. He played well, but he was a lazy student who was habitually late for class. He was then kicked off the basketball team after mouthing off to a teacher. He later enrolled at Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, North Carolina. He led his team to a higher level. Mount Zion twice beat Virginia’s Oak Hill Academy, a perennial national power. Mount Zion climbed up USA Today’s Super 25 rankings. T-Mac was the fuel of this team, playing all five positions and averaging nearly a triple-double. A McDonald’s All-American, Tracy led Mount Zion to the #2 ranking in the country.
He created national buzz after his performance in the Reebok ABCD Camp, to which the best high school players in the nation are invited annually. He was named high school Player of the Year by USA Today. He skipped college and when straight to the NBA.
NBA Career
Toronto Raptors
Due in part to his strong showing at the ABCD camp, Tracy McGrady was selected ninth overall in the NBA Draft 1997 by the Toronto Raptors. Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause had arranged a draft-day trade to send Scottie Pippen to Toronto for the 9th overall pick, which he would have used to take McGrady. Krause decided not to make the deal when Michael Jordan threatened to retire if it was made.
McGrady often found himself in teammate Vince Carter's shadow. While Carter was responsible for scoring, it was McGrady's job to be the team's defensive stopper and ball distributor. During the all-star break, Vince and Tracy both participated in the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Vince won the slam dunk contest. The duo of Carter and McGrady led the Raptors to their first playoff berth in the 2000 NBA Playoffs, but they were swept by the New York Knicks in three games. After that season Tracy would then be a free agent.
Orlando Magic
The Toronto Raptors made a sign-and-trade deal which sent McGrady to the Orlando Magic in exchange for a first round draft pick in 2000. In the 2000–01 season, he won the NBA Most Improved Player Award and was selected as a starter in the All-Star Game. In the 2002–03 season, McGrady averaged 32.1 points per game and captured the NBA scoring title, becoming the youngest player to do so since the NBA/ABA merger. In the 2003–04 season, he once again captured the NBA scoring title, averaging 28 points per game, and set a career high with 62 points against the Washington Wizards on March 10, 2004. With this performance, he became the fourth player in the past 12 years to score over 60 points in a game.
Despite McGrady's personal accolades, the Magic failed to reach the second round of the playoffs. In a rather infamous moment, during the 2003 NBA playoffs, the Magic (who were an #8 seed) surprisingly took a 3-1 series lead against the heavily favored #1 seed Detroit Pistons. Prior to the fifth game in Detroit, McGrady was quoted as saying that how wonderful it was to "finally be in the second round (of the playoffs)". Orlando, however, lost Games 5, 6, and 7 by an average of 18 points, and Detroit advanced to the Second Round.
In his fourth season with the Magic, problems with team chemistry, coaching, and management forced Orlando into a downward spiral. The season ended with Orlando failing to reach the playoffs and an impatient McGrady seeking a trade.
Houston Rockets
On June 29, 2004, McGrady, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue, and Reece Gaines were traded to the Houston Rockets in a seven-player deal that sent Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, and Kelvin Cato to the Magic. In his first year in Houston, McGrady teamed with 7'6" center Yao Ming, to end the season ranked 5th in the Western Conference. The season started slowly for the Rockets, but by mid-season, coach Jeff Van Gundy altered McGrady's role and made him the primary offensive option over center Yao Ming. On December 9, 2004, he scored 13 points in the last 35 seconds of a game against the San Antonio Spurs, with four consecutive 3 pointers (one of which was part of a four-point play), including a steal and the game-winning 3 pointer with 1.7 seconds left in the game. This helped the Rockets win 81–80.
Despite McGrady's play in the 1st round of the 2005 NBA Playoffs, Houston was eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks in game seven by 40 points.
In the early 2005–06 season, McGrady missed eight games because of multiple back spasms. His back problems resurfaced on January 8, 2006 when he had to be taken out at halftime in a game against the Denver Nuggets on a stretcher to hospital because of severe back spasms. He had been out for five games. Since his return, the spasms have still been a problem for McGrady. In the 2005–06 season the Rockets were 2–15 in games he did not play in and 2–16 in games McGrady did not finish. While McGrady was injured for five games with his back injury, the Rockets did not win a single game. Other injuries include him falling on his tailbone in a game against the Indiana Pacers.
Tracy McGrady again endured back spasms in the 2006-2007 season, although not as severe, he still missed a considerable amount of games because of it. Tracy McGrady also had one of the best regular season's of his career, even getting homecourt advantage for the playoffs against the Utah Jazz, for the first time in his career! Unforutnately, Tracy McGrady and Houston Rockets failed to get past the first round after losing the seventh game of the series at home.
Tracy McGrady again missed a few games in the 2007-2008 season, not because of back spasms, but because of a sore knee problem. Currently, he is also suffering from a sore shoulder, but has not missed any games because of it.
Personal
Recognized for his tremendous efforts in the Central Florida community with the 2003 Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award. In 2003, was named among all professional athletes as “Good Guys in Sports” by The Sporting News, recognizing athletes for outstanding character and exemplary civic responsibility. Took several classes over the 2000 summer at nearby Rollins College which focused on leadership skills. Considered attending Kentucky or Florida State before opting to declare himself for the NBA Draft 1997. Donated $300,000 to Mt. Zion after being drafted by Toronto and intends to make a donation to Auburndale High School. Names Jim Carrey and Martin Lawrence as his favorite performers and enjoys watching karate movies. Favorite meal is his mother's special spaghetti and meatballs. Cousin of NBA All-Star and former Rookie-of-the-Year Vince Carter. In 2007 the McGrady jersey was the best-selling NBA jersey in China.
