Tracy McGrady named finalist for Basketball Hall of Fame

Tracy McGrady is one step closer to making the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was officially named a finalist for basketball’s highest honor.

Former Orlando Magic All Star Tracy McGrady is one step closer to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

McGrady was named as one of the 14 finalists for induction into the Hall of Fame on Saturday in New Orleans. Other potential nominees include Villanova coach Rollie Massimino, former Orlando Magic first round pick Chris Webber, WNBA superstar Rebecca Lobo and Milwaukee Bucks star guard Sidney Moncrief among many others.

McGrady played four years in Orlando after signing with the team in 2000 during a vaunted summer when the Magic tried to sign Grant Hill and Tim Duncan. McGrady was the most unknown of the three. But he quickly turned into not only an All Star but one of the best players in the entire league.

In his four years in Orlando, McGrady averaged 28.1 points per game and posted a 48.4 percent effective field goal percentage despite a ridiculously high usage rate. McGrady put the Magic on his back for four seasons and led an assault on all kinds of scoring records.

McGrady was a two-time scoring champion in Orlando, averaging 32.1 points per game in the 2003 season. He was an All Star for all four years he was in Orlando, was named to the All-NBA First Team twice in Orlando and won the league’s Most Improved Player Award in 2001.

T-Mac was a true superstar even though his team struggled.

The Magic never got out of the first round in his three Playoff appearances in Orlando. His burden was too great as he fell to the Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons. The 2003 series against the Pistons, when the eighth-seeded Magic took a 3-1 lead, was especially killer.

Orlando Magic

Eventually, the Magic’s inability to build a strong supporting cast along with Grant Hill’s constant injuries collapsed. McGrady’s relationship with general manager Jon Weisbrod was icy at best and he eventually asked his way out. He continued his scoring prowess with the Houston Rockets, but still never experienced much team success.

Still, McGrady’s career as a whole left a wake of scoring carnage behind him. He was perhaps the best scorer of the 2000s. For a few years, there were legitimate debates about who was better between him and Kobe Bryant. Bryant even admitted McGrady was the toughest player for him to defend.

Because of McGrady’s poor team performances, it was never completely certain he would get the Hall of Fame call.

Basketball-Reference puts his Hall of Fame probability at 95.5 percent. His scoring ventures and tenure are simply too much to ignore. It feels like McGrady will get into the Hall of Fame someday. It may not be in his first time on the ballot, but he should get in.

Arguably, McGrady’s best basketball came with the Magic. At the very least, he would become the second player with significant Magic history to make the Hall of Fame (after Shaquille O’Neal).

Next: Tracy McGrady's career speaks for itself, Hall or not

The Hall of Fame will announce the final nominees at the Final Four in early April. Magic fans certainly will hope McGrady gets the call again.