Tracy McGrady Retires

T-Mac w/the Knicks

   It's true. T-Mac, Tracy McGrady, is done with the NBA officially retiring today.  The 6'8'' probable future First Ballot Hall Of Famer, phenomenal career as an individual goes down as one of the best Shooting-Guards and scorers to play the game... period. I just hope his lack of post-season success will always haunt him and give the fans a reason to not vote him into the HOF.  But we forget, T-Mac is a now 34 year old man with no legs, knees, or ankles, and 16 NBA seasons under his belt to boot.  Sure, he still was efficient the last 2 years in limited minutes.  We also forget how amazing he was as a player;  in Toronto, scoring 32.1 points a game in Orlando, and teaming with Yao in Houston to consistent 50+win teams and playoff births, consecutive years running in the mid 2000-2010 decade. One problem was McGrady always put it on himself, especially in Houston with a superstar, Yao Ming, complementing him down low, (along with solid teammates like Scola and Battier), but no matter what it was "all T-Mac's fault" when they failed to win in the first round each year, and he let the press put it on him.  That takes heart.

   The NBA will truly miss T-Mac, whom I consider a very underrated player overall.  People seem to forget just how damn good he was in his 20's.  People also forget he's had a big, long career playing for the Raptors at age 18, coming out of high school to be a lottery pick.  By age 20 he was a solid starter, and at 21 he won most improved player in his first year at Orlando putting up 26+ppg and all around great play, even on the defensive end.  

   He's led the NBA twice in scoring, two consecutive years, with 32.1ppg  in 2003 and 28+ in 2004. How many players have won the scoring title 2 years in a row? Well you can count them on one hand. Blessed as an amazing scorer with boosting athleticism and talent, but he also had a very high basketball IQ and could play both ends of the court.  Not only was he counted on to lead your team consistently every single night, but he could be penciled in for 20+points, 5+assists, 1-2 steals, 1 block, lot's of free throws, 1 or 2 "wow plays", and a chance to win.  James Harden would love to have a career that resembles Tracy's, aside from not winning an NBA Championship that is...

   Seven time All-Star, two time All-NBA 1st Team, three time All-NBA 2nd team, and two time All-NBA 3rd team, and 2001 Most Improved Player of the Year Award.  Throw in 2 time NBA Scoring Champion, and we have ourselves a First Ballot Hall of Famer in our hands. But he never "carried a team to the 2nd round", and I wonder how much that will affect things.

But T-Mac speaks for himself.  Just take a look at his career numbers:  

    -19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.9 blocks              -44%FG, 34%3FG (32.7 minutes)

Not many players have "Career Numbers" like that, and had he gone to college for a year the numbers would be even better. There's not many players that are 6'8'' agile, athletic, high IQ Shooting Guards that can do a bit of everything, including run the point and defend multiple positions as well as play 1, 2 or 3.

For Iphone/SmartPhone's that don't Show the video of T-Mac's career MIX:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DwxncygNms

   Tracy McGrady should go down as one of the best shooting guards to play the game, a first ballot HOF'er, and should be remembered lastly as a Rocket.  I will miss the years of him lighting up my lLakers for 40 points on opening night!  Good look in China T-Mac!

  His 16 seasons of All-Star level basketball (well maybe 12 seasons) make you a top 50 player of All-Time possibly, it's all up to the fans now. I hope others agree with me. I know there wasn't the "team success" even though there was (just not in getting a ring, but winning consistently he did).

   That winning and getting to the playoffs consistently, along with his career stats and obvious skill and flare watching him the past 16 years we have been spoiled.  The last 16 seasons an influx of amazing shooting-guards like Kobe Bryant; Grant Hill, Jerry Stackhouse, Michael Finley, Ray Allen, Vince Carter, Joe Johnson, Steve Smith, and many others I excluded spoiled us all.

   But if I had to rank their careers, Kobe is first and then T-Mac or RayRay are next on my list as whole careers.

What do you all think?  First Ballot Hall of Famer or not? Speak your mind....