Tracy Mcgrady


Biography

Also known by his nickname "T-Mac," Tracy McGrady was an accomplished basketball player, appearing in seven NBA All-Star games and the 2004 Summer Olympics. He was born on May 24, 1979, in Bartow, Fla., and was raised by his mother and grandmother. He played both basketball and baseball in high school, but the former sport became his focus as he gained national fame for his prowess. At t...

Biography

Also known by his nickname "T-Mac," Tracy McGrady was an accomplished basketball player, appearing in seven NBA All-Star games and the 2004 Summer Olympics. He was born on May 24, 1979, in Bartow, Fla., and was raised by his mother and grandmother. He played both basketball and baseball in high school, but the former sport became his focus as he gained national fame for his prowess. At the age of 18, he was drafted out of high school by the Toronto Raptors and developed a close partnership with teammate Vince Carter, a friend of his who coincidentally turned out to be a distant cousin. Together they helped the Raptors make it into the playoffs for the first time, although the team bowed out in the first round. Once a free agent, McGrady signed with the Orlando Magic in 2000 and played four seasons there. In 2001, he made his first of seven consecutive appearances at the NBA All-Star Game. He was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2004, where he continued to score big while battling recurring back problems. He was selected for the U.S. men's national basketball team for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, and helped the team win the gold medal over Puerto Rico. During the 2007-2008 season, he led the Rockets during a 22-game winning streak, the fourth longest in NBA history. Numerous injuries plagued his later years, keeping him off the court for long stretches. After being traded by the Rockets, he played for the New York Knicks, the Detroit Pistons, the Atlanta Hawks and the Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles, a team in the Chinese Basketball Association. His last contract, with the San Antonio Spurs, allowed him to finally play in an NBA Finals series in 2013. That year, he announced his retirement. He stayed close to his favorite sport and became an NBA analyst for ESPN in 2016. He is married to CleRenda Harris and together they have three children.

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