“If you're talkin' bout prime T-mac, hell yeah” - Tracy McGrady on whether he’d trade being in the Hall of Fame for a championship ring
Tracy McGrady is one of the best players to ever play in the NBA. He was an offensive monster, averaging over 32 PPG in his best season. This was one of two back-to-back campaigns in which he led the league in scoring.
McGrady was known for his offensive game, as he wasn't quite as good on the defensive end. That said, he managed to make his way into the All-Star game seven times in his 16-year career. He also won the most improved player in the 2000-01 season after making an 11.4 increase in PPG.
McGrady's most impressive accomplishment was being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. However, the one accolade that T-Mac unfortunately never got was an NBA championship ring.
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McGrady on the importance of winning a title
McGrady recently went on "The Pivot" podcast and spoke on the importance of winning a championship ring. He was asked whether or not he would trade being in the Hall of Game for a ring.
"Depends on who I am as a player; that means a lot to me. You know what I mean? It depends on who I am as a player. Now, if you're talkin' bout prime T-mac, hell yeah. Because I know if I'm prime T-mac to win the championship, then I'm destined for the hall of fame, you dig. So absolutely, any day," McGrady said.
Not if he's chasing a ring
T-Mac was never on a team that had the talent to go all the way. He was on the Orlando Magic and the Houston Rockets during his prime, which lasted roughly seven years. While with these teams, he was never able to make it out of the first round of the playoffs.
"But, if you're not gonna surround me to be on the championship team, nah, I want the Hall of Fame, I want the Fall of Fame forever. Because in my prime, you didn't surround me with that, so now I'm chasing at the end? Nah, heck nah," T-Mac added.
It's clear that being the center of a championship team was essential to McGrady. The hosts on the podcast even joked with him about ring-chasing at the end of a player's career. However, winning a meaningless championship wouldn't have been worth it for T-Mac to give up being a Hall of Famer.