NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady is one of the greatest players to have ever graced the basketball court. His skill set at his size was almost unheard of at the time.
There is no question about his skill, but while that’s the case, he has never been to the mountaintop. Despite his skill and resume, leaving the game of basketball without a championship is among the biggest things lacking for McGrady.
Winning a championship is a feat only a few star players get to accomplish, and McGrady is not one of them. However, if you ask him, he feels he was never given a legitimate opportunity to win one.
During a recent appearance on ESPN’s First Take, McGrady didn’t hold back, offering a bold take on the topic. He suggested that if you swapped Kobe Bryant for himself during that era, the Los Angeles Lakers would have still achieved the same level of success.
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“We have too many talented players that come through this league that are championship worthy,” said McGrady. “What I mean by that is, if you take them off a team that is a championship-quality team — replace me with Kobe with Shaq. You don’t think I could carry the Lakers to a championship? I never had the opportunity. I felt like that if I was put in that position to win a championship, I damn sure would show up and do what I do in the playoffs to elevate my team to that level. I just never had the chance. So, do I get diminished because I never won a championship? I was never put in that position.”
McGrady finished his career without a championship, but he still made seven All-Stars, a two-time scoring champion, a seven-time All-NBA player and won Most Improved Player in 2000-01. While his resume is not one to boast about, Bryant’s resume and accomplishments in the game far surpass McGrady’s.
As for the late great legend, he is not only a Hall of Famer himself but also an 18-time All-Star, a five-time NBA champion, a two-time Finals MVP, a 2008 NBA MVP, a 12-time All-Defensive team member, a 15-time All-NBA selection, a two-time scoring champion, and a member of the 75th NBA Anniversary team.
While Bryant always spoke highly of McGrady — once noting that McGrady could do everything he could, only with more height—it’s clear the Lakers icon had more than just talent on his side.
Bryant had the benefit of stronger supporting casts throughout much of his career, but more importantly, he possessed a rare mentality and competitive edge that separated him from the pack and helped push him to the next level.
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