Tracy McGrady considering retirement
Options
detcatinva
Members Posts: 11,691 ✭✭✭✭✭
? McGrady is at a career crossroads, and he knows it.
The New York Knicks' swingman remains optimistic that an extensive training program this summer can help him regain the form that made him an NBA All-Star. But if his game doesn't return, he'll retire, he said Wednesday.
"If it don't happen this summer, I'll ride off into the sunset," McGrady told reporters before sitting out the Knicks' season finale, a 131-113 loss at Toronto.
"If I could go through another offseason of working my [butt] off, and I don't feel I'm getting any better, I can't see myself coming back playing the way I'm playing right now. I just don't see it happening," he said.
McGrady has played in just 65 games total the past two seasons after battling injuries and recovering from microfracture surgery on his left knee. The last 24 of those games were played with the Knicks, who acquired McGrady -- and his expiring contract -- in a trade with the Houston Rockets in February.
McGrady scored 26 points in his debut with the Knicks, on Feb. 20 against the Thunder. But he cracked the 20-point plateau just two more times and finished the season averaging 8.2 points per game, well below his career 21.5 ppg scoring average.
"You know what, after I realized I had something in the tank -- there were some games I did play well -- I was, like, really trying not to get hurt," McGrady told reporters on Wednesday.
"[Coach Mike D'Antoni] knew I wasn't going to be the T-Mac he was used to competing against when he was in Phoenix," McGrady said. "I knew I wasn't going to be that, but it was good for me to finally get out there and see where I was at physically after missing 1½ years of basketball."
Still, McGrady is hopeful a summer of intense training will extend his career. He's a free agent and though his future in New York is doubtful, he hopes he can catch on with a contender next season -- or at least resemble the player who won a pair of NBA scoring titles.
"I feel confident that I will be able to go and not worry about calling it quits," he said. "It's just been too much of constantly just grinding and trying to get it back. Mentally, it took a toll on me the last couple of years. I don't want to go through that again.
"This summer, I will continue to work hard and get myself and get in good shape and pay the best
money doctors can buy and physical therapists and everything to get myself where I need to be."
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=5092348
The New York Knicks' swingman remains optimistic that an extensive training program this summer can help him regain the form that made him an NBA All-Star. But if his game doesn't return, he'll retire, he said Wednesday.
"If it don't happen this summer, I'll ride off into the sunset," McGrady told reporters before sitting out the Knicks' season finale, a 131-113 loss at Toronto.
"If I could go through another offseason of working my [butt] off, and I don't feel I'm getting any better, I can't see myself coming back playing the way I'm playing right now. I just don't see it happening," he said.
McGrady has played in just 65 games total the past two seasons after battling injuries and recovering from microfracture surgery on his left knee. The last 24 of those games were played with the Knicks, who acquired McGrady -- and his expiring contract -- in a trade with the Houston Rockets in February.
McGrady scored 26 points in his debut with the Knicks, on Feb. 20 against the Thunder. But he cracked the 20-point plateau just two more times and finished the season averaging 8.2 points per game, well below his career 21.5 ppg scoring average.
"You know what, after I realized I had something in the tank -- there were some games I did play well -- I was, like, really trying not to get hurt," McGrady told reporters on Wednesday.
"[Coach Mike D'Antoni] knew I wasn't going to be the T-Mac he was used to competing against when he was in Phoenix," McGrady said. "I knew I wasn't going to be that, but it was good for me to finally get out there and see where I was at physically after missing 1½ years of basketball."
Still, McGrady is hopeful a summer of intense training will extend his career. He's a free agent and though his future in New York is doubtful, he hopes he can catch on with a contender next season -- or at least resemble the player who won a pair of NBA scoring titles.
"I feel confident that I will be able to go and not worry about calling it quits," he said. "It's just been too much of constantly just grinding and trying to get it back. Mentally, it took a toll on me the last couple of years. I don't want to go through that again.
"This summer, I will continue to work hard and get myself and get in good shape and pay the best
money doctors can buy and physical therapists and everything to get myself where I need to be."
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=5092348
Comments
-
u know a player's career is over when they go to the ? knicks, lol
-
take a lesson from AI, retire before you tarnish your legacy bouncing from team to team and sucking
-
It's sad since T-Mac anit really have a chance to prove himself since he injure prone. Just like AI players leaving the NBA when they still got some game left in em. They should both come to Miami for a small contract as backup for Wade.
-
SMH dude was a beast
-
damn...i hope he comes back next year
goat tmac...13 points in 33 seconds against spurs... -
i think he can at least come back to grant hill status, i mean grant hill aint wat he was but he shows flashes all the time...
-
G.R.I.P. Money $$$ wrote: »i think he can at least come back to grant hill status, i mean grant hill aint wat he was but he shows flashes all the time...
that would b dope if he can become da next grant hill...tmac is only like 32...avg 12 a game and help a team....he needs to hollla at grant hill trainers -
that would b dope if he can become da next grant hill...tmac is only like 32...avg 12 a game and help a team....he needs to hollla at grant hill trainers
yeah he only 30 -
??????????u know a player's career is over when they go to the ? knicks, lol
yea look at zach randolph....channing frye....jamal crawford.....& Quentin richardson -
SMH why my favorite player
But he just turned 30 who knows what can happen. -
Smo-King Locs wrote: »??????????
yea look at zach randolph....channing frye....jamal crawford.....& Quentin richardson
ethred . -
come and be a sixth man in Orlando
-
Damn I hope he gets his game back
-
I swear him and Vince have a injury prone gene.
-
G.R.I.P. Money $$$ wrote: »i think he can at least come back to grant hill status, i mean grant hill aint wat he was but he shows flashes all the time...
co sign. grant hill doing his thang in Phx. -
damn...i hope he comes back next year
goat tmac...13 points in 33 seconds against spurs...
That was a "cheers to the good life" type of classic!! -
i hope he can get it back...or at least change his game up to prolong his career....he can't carry a team like he used to
-
Why don't these dudes work out during the off season instead of partying all the damn time. Those ole skool cats like D Robinson, Jordan, K Malone, Kareem and all the greats, they worked during the offseason and had mostly a non-injury playing career. Athleticism is not going to cut it anymore
-
McGrady was and always will be a lazy player who tried to get over on his height and athletic ability. You can see it in these players. Those that train hard, take care of themselves and play hard every second of the game seem to get very few injuries. I'm convinced of it. McGrady never was a clutch player and played like a lazy ? . What did he ever win? What did he ever contribute except some nice dunks and a terrible jump shot? He was clearly a wasted talent.
-
^^^wow^^^ .
-
co sign. grant hill doing his thang in Phx.
what's up with injured players go to the suns and their training staff heal them dudes like they in cocoon -
he used to be great, now he just meh
-
I don't have a problem with T-Mac coming back to the Knicks, but he'll have to take the veteran minimum.
-
co sign. grant hill doing his thang in Phx.
PHX got that miracle fountain of youth training staff...they could have Wilt Chamberlain's corpse dropping another 100 if they wanted too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vcr_icy28gs
