A Hall of Fame induction gives Tracy McGrady the recognition he deserves

For Tracy McGrady, a Hall of Fame induction gives him the recognition that he sometimes doesn’t receive.

Tracy McGrady was a superstar in every sense of the word.

Standing 6’8″ tall, the lengthy McGrady had the height to pull up from seemingly any spot and the explosion to blow by defenders for a layup.

Tracy was so highly coveted as a rookie, that the Chicago Bulls attempted to trade Scottie Pippen for him in 1997, according to Jonathan Abrams book “Boys Among Men,” (via Matt Moore of CBS Sports). Think about that, trading a future Hall of Famer and the second piece of the league’s most formidable duo for a rookie, that is how good T-Mac was.

Michael Jordan nixed the trade, but imagine how that trade could’ve changed the course of NBA history. With a rookie McGrady, the Bulls may not win that title against the Jazz in 1998. We may not have been blessed with the memory of Jordan’s “Last Shot.” With a bitter taste in his mouth, maybe Jordan comes back for the 1999 season and wins the championship with McGrady that year.

Or maybe Scottie Pippen, Vince Carter and the up and coming Raptors would’ve claimed the Eastern Conference Finals title instead. Does Vince stay in Toronto if Tracy never went to the Raptors? They’re simply too many hypotheticals to explore in one article. Oh, and if Chicago loses in 1998, than Karl Malone and John Stockton would’ve never been remembered as superstars that never one a ring.

No rings, no glory?

And unfortunately for McGrady, he is apart of that club too. Tracy’s career is somewhat marred by his postseason failures. McGrady and the Orlando Magic blew a 3-1 lead against the Detroit Pistons in 2003. After his trade to Houston, McGrady and the Rockets lost close seven-game series against the Mavericks and Jazz in 2005 and 2007.

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After that, injuries began to plague McGrady’s career, and he was never the same after the 2007-08 season. Often times, ignorant critics seem to forget all of McGrady’s heroics, and sum up his career as a good player that wasn’t good enough to get over the hump. Are you kidding me? Winning championships, especially multiple championships, involves a bit of luck too.

If Grant Hill didn’t have injury problems in Orlando and if Yao Ming’s body didn’t betray him in Houston, then McGrady’s career could’ve looked a lot different. But as McGrady said, anybody can win a championship, but not everybody gets into the Hall of Fame, via The Chron’s Jonathan Feigen.

“When I made that statement that anybody can win a championship but everybody can’t get in the Hall of Fame, it was not to discredit the greats that have won championships. I’m saying if you want to talk about me getting in the Hall of Fame without winning a championship, I have to come at you and say, ‘anybody can win a championship,’ which is so true. Anybody means any individual person. It doesn’t mean ‘everybody.’ I was one shot (Ray Allen’s corner 3) from winning a championship, and I didn’t even play. If you’re offended by that, tough.”

Tracy McGrady still had a great, Hall of Fame worthy career.

He may not have won a chip, but McGrady had those special moments that define every superstars’ career. Catching his own alley-oop off the backboard in the 2002 All-Star Game, the dunk on 7’6″ Shawn Bradley in the playoffs, and of course the 13 points in 33 seconds comeback to beat the Spurs to name a few.

Tracy McGrady averaged 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists over his career. He made seven All-Star games, seven All-NBA teams, and was the 2000-01 NBA’s Most Improved Player. T-Mac was one of the most talented basketball players to ever lace up a pair of sneakers, and was a point-forward before the term became so popular.

Next: Could James Harden become the best player in Rockets history?

And now, on Friday, he will finally get the recognition he deserves. Congrats to Tracy McGrady, for your induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

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