Tracy McGrady was a bonafide superstar for the Orlando Magic during the early 2000s. He was a first option since he was the best scorer in the league for a few years. However, McGrady felt uncomfortable in that role because he wanted some support, particularly from Grant Hill, who constantly dealt with injuries during their time together in Orlando.
T-Mac thought he would have been a better player if he could have played with other stars. He would have been a perfect partner for Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal on the Los Angeles Lakers because Jerry West was a big fan of McGrady and his potential fit alongside the Black Mamba.
“We are talking about two of the greatest. To team up with these guys. What that could have done for me personally. Oh my gosh, man,” T-Mac said on ESPN’s The Jump. “I was always the type of player like a Scottie Pippen type — share the ball, defend the best player. That’s what I did in my three years in Toronto. I would have been that playing alongside Kobe Bryant.”
Tracy and Kobe were kindred spirits
Tracy and Kobe became close friends as they matured in the league simultaneously. They also pushed each other to be better players. They were the top shooting guards in the league, and they shared plenty of similarities, including their athleticism and natural knack for scoring.
Kobe helped the team succeed by playing alongside Shaquille O’Neal. He won three straight championships from 2000 to 2002 while T-Mac was just getting started with his breakout seasons in Orlando. Individually, they matched against each other, dueling for the top scorer crown.
McGrady pulled away with two scoring titles in 2003 and 2004, and Bryant kept progressing. The Black Mamba eventually broke out on his own when Shaq left the Lakers, which meant T-Mac and Kobe were on equal ground. Unfortunately for T-Mac, this was when Kobe broke away and became the better player.
Despite that dynamic, Tracy and Kobe were still close friends and rivals. They had many exciting battles throughout their careers, which McGrady loves talking about when Bryant is mentioned. They would have been fantastic teammates because McGrady felt comfortable playing a role that best fits the team.
McGrady would have thrived as a third star on the Lakers
T-Mac was not a player who had issues with his star player role getting diminished. He wanted to win for the team, but he always had lady luck going against him. McGrady never got past the first round outside his last season with the San Antonio Spurs in 2013, when he did not play a single postseason minute.
If he played alongside Kobe and Shaq, he would likely play a third-option role, especially with his affinity for being a player like Scottie Pippen. He could still shine because most of the defenders’ attention would have been on the superstar duo. Even if Shaq left, the Lakers would have been in good hands with a duo of Bryant and McGrady. Unfortunately, T-Mac never got that kind of team around him, but he was still a superstar in his own right.
Related: "I just looked at the bigger picture" - Tracy McGrady on transition from star to a role player
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