Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Orlando Magic Daily Roundtable: Tracy McGrady Edition

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 27: Orlando Magic's Tracy McGrady display threes on each hand after shooting a three pointer to the score at 92 points to send the game into overtime during the game against Charlotte Hornets at the first round of Eastern Conference playoffs at the TD Waterhouse Centre in Orlando, FL, 27 April 2002. The Magic lost 100 to 110 as the Hornets pulled ahead and won game three. (Photo credit should read CALVIN KNIGHT/AFP/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 27: Orlando Magic's Tracy McGrady display threes on each hand after shooting a three pointer to the score at 92 points to send the game into overtime during the game against Charlotte Hornets at the first round of Eastern Conference playoffs at the TD Waterhouse Centre in Orlando, FL, 27 April 2002. The Magic lost 100 to 110 as the Hornets pulled ahead and won game three. (Photo credit should read CALVIN KNIGHT/AFP/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Tracy McGrady, Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers
ORLANDO – DECEMBER 26: Tracy McGrady #1 of the Orlando Magic drives around Al Harrington #3 of the Indiana Pacers at the TD Waterhouse Centre in Orlando, Florida on December 26, 2001. The Pacers won 89-82. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2002 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE/Getty Images) /

Is Tracy McGrady the greatest scorer in Magic history? Who in Magic or NBA history compares to what he did?

Palmer: McGrady is absolutely the best perimeter scorer the Magic have ever had. Anfernee Hardaway was great but Tracy McGrady had this next level that he was able to reach back and grab that Hardaway did not. Not to mention, McGrady was the only guy defenses had to focus on. This might be a cop out but Tracy McGrady honestly was very similar to Kobe Bryant back when they played. McGrady was a better facilitator and shooter while Bryant the stronger defender. Heck, you could even make a comparison to Vince Carter.

Buckley: There is no question he was the best scorer in Magic history. Anfernee Hardaway is a great comparison just because they were so similar in their passing ability. But McGrady had another level. Plus, he gets style points for making it look like he was doing all this 30 minutes after waking up from a nap.

Rossman-Reich: The stats speak for themselves here. McGrady was undoubtedly the best scorer in Magic history, leading the league in scoring in back-to-back years. No other Magic player has done that. Shaquille O’Neal is probably the next guy on the list. But, no offense to him or centers everywhere, centers scoring is very different than guards and wings scoring. McGrady could score in a number of ways and dominated the game by his mere presence. It was hard to guard him. And when he felt like dropping 40 points, he just did it. There has been no player really in Magic history who you thought you would see something truly special every time he stepped onto the court. That was McGrady.