Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Tracy McGrady headed to Orlando Magic Hall of Fame

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 19: Tracy McGrady #1 of the Orlando Magic shoots over Clifford Robinson #3 and Erick Dampier #25 of the Golden State Warriors during the NBA game at TD Waterhouse Centre on December 19, 2003 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic won 119-93. 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. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 19: Tracy McGrady #1 of the Orlando Magic shoots over Clifford Robinson #3 and Erick Dampier #25 of the Golden State Warriors during the NBA game at TD Waterhouse Centre on December 19, 2003 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic won 119-93. 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. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Orlando Magic announced Tracy McGrady will head to the team’s Orlando Magic Hall of Fame in March. An honor certainly deserved.

The Orlando Magic will induct Tracy McGrady into the team’s Orlando Magic Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony on March 20 — with recognition during the game that evening against the Toronto Raptors.

McGrady will be the eighth inductee into the Magic’s team Hall of Fame. Like the other players, he will get a permanent monument in the team NutriLite Fan Experience area within the Amway Center.

It is an honor that is extremely well deserved. And one that was more than expected following McGrady’s induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last year. He became the second player prominently associated with the Magic to enter the Hall of Fame, along with Shaquille O’Neal.

McGrady very well may be one of the four best players in Magic history. And almost certainly the team’s most accomplished scorer.

"“We are extremely excited to continue our tradition of honoring those who made the most significant contributions to our history with the induction of Tracy McGrady into the Magic Hall of Fame,” said Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins in a press release. “Home grown in Central Florida, T-Mac wowed us with his talent on a nightly basis, while making compassionate contributions in the community.”"

McGrady signed with the Magic in the summer of 2000 as a young player seemingly ready to burst onto the scene. He did so in a way nobody expected.

In four seasons with the Magic, he averaged 28.1 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game and 5.2 assists per game. He was an All-Star for all four years, including a starter twice. McGrady led the league in scoring twice, including averaging 32.1 points per game in the 2002 season. That marks the highest single-season scoring average in Magic history.

McGrady owns several scoring records for the Magic including dropping 62 points against the Washington Wizards in March 2004.

Things never came together though in the Playoffs. The Magic were never able to be more than a few games better than .500. Grant Hill‘s injuries stretched the roster thin. That injury prevented him from giving McGrady the second star he needed to compete. Often, McGrady was clearly the best player on the floor. He was twice All-NBA First Team in a Magic uniform.

McGrady eventually asked to be traded, hoping to compete for a championship elsewhere. And disagreeing with the Magic’s direction and leadership under then general manager Jon Weisbrod.

He moved on to the Houston Rockets where he continued to play at a high level. But injuries too sapped him of much of his athleticism and he never got out of the first round until late in his career.

McGrady still did plenty to make the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last year. Entry into the Magic Hall of Fame was a question of when not if. And he will get his honor next month.

Next: Tracy McGrady deserves Basketball Hall of Fame honor

McGrady has since returned to the Magic. He acts as a special advisor working with players on the team some. He also does promotional work for the G-League’s Lakeland Magic, located near his hometown in Auburndale, Fla. The Lakeland Magic will host a Tracy McGrady Night for their game Friday. He also hosts ESPN’s The Jump.