Wednesday, October 10th, 2012 at 9:00 am  |  104 responses

Tracy McGrady Says Goodbye to the NBA


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Tracy McGrady’s remarkable 16-year NBA career has come to an end.

The 7-time All-Star and 2-time scoring champion has decided to try his luck in China.

McGrady confirmed rumors that he was close to a deal with the Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association — the agreement was reached on Tuesday.

T-Mac posted a farewell message to the NBA on his Facebook and personal website. Below is a snippet:

There are times in life that a new road presents itself and it appears this time has come for me now. I am so proud of what I have accomplished these past 15 years playing in the NBA. It was a dream entering the league as I just turned 18 years old. I worked hard and poured my heart and soul into this game. I consider myself a student of the game as I have watched, studied and played with and against the best players in the world. The NBA was my University and I learned so much. The gratitude I feel is really immeasurable. I have experienced the best moments a player can experience and have had some dark ones too. Both equally important in helping shape me into the man I am today.

As I enter this next chapter, I am excited to play for Qingdao Eagles in China. I have been to China several times in the last few years and I love the people and the country. It will be an honor to play for them. Thank you to every fan that has followed me and believed in me. Injuries and all, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I am proud of the mark I left on this game and am grateful to have been a part this league. It was a dream to play in front of all of you, each night, in every stadium. Thank you.

Happy trails, Tracy.

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  • Ryan

    Showing a lot of heart and class.

  • hushabomb

    Such a shame to see ya go. All I hope is that you play with heart and dedication and come back and make a winning team better for their playoff run. I’m so surprised that this happened though

  • Max

    Another man down.

  • ozmosis

    one of my favorite players as a kid, but i gotta be honest. His mark in the history books is no more than mine!

  • http://twitter.com/Jzakoni Verified Account

    Good Luck T-Mac. you’ll be remembered

  • JR

    Thanks for the memories, T-Mac.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    Too many years carrying Orlando by himself. I wish Grant Hill had been healthy while they were together. He had a few seasons where he was on the same level offensively with Kobe. Wonder if he will get into the Hall of Fame.

  • Redd

    Wow, I don’t think we realize how great players like Tmac are until their time is up. Hope he retires soon so he can keep his health.

  • Tempest

    I hope he dominates in China and puts up a few 30 plus games like he used to. Much love to T-Mac

  • nick

    I don’t think I could be happier as of right now, I literally currently live near Qingdao, I CAN NOT wait to see him play!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • http://www.sneakertheater.com/ Sneaker Theater

    Really wish he could have signed with a contender, he deserves a ring. This is crazy… Him and Kobe were like my favorite players.

  • Caboose

    I didn’t know you had 7 All-Star appearances and 2 scoring titles. Congrats to you!

  • Caboose

    I absolutely think he belongs in the Hall of Fame. Dude was amazing carrying Orlando, and still pretty good with Houston. A rare talent.

  • BRAVO

    Oh man about 10 years ago this T-mac was my favorite player! Raptor days, Orlando days & Houston. When he was a rookie with my Raptors he had so much hype surrounding him but was over looked by VC at the time. But DAMN in Orlando days were crazy too, career number and not to mention NBA Scoring titles along with that. As far as his Houston days all I can really remember was his 13 point come back + the win again the Spurs(only 3 pointers) His big poster dunk on Shawn Bradley in the Post season……but the fact is he has never got passed the 1st Round in the Playoffs just makes me upset.

  • bike

    One of the most unique talents in the history of the nba. His body simply let him down a little early in his career.

  • Balls of Fiyah

    It’s sad to see him leave NBA.. as sad when he left Raps, and his cousin VC.

  • coyboo

    i just realized i am old now. circa 2001 its hard to imagine t-mac not being in the nba, not being coveted by an nba team even. sad to face reality

  • Chris

    Slam, why not post the entire thing?

    There are times in life that a new road presents itself and it appears this time has come for me now. I am so proud of what I have accomplished these past 15 years playing in the NBA. It was a dream entering the league as I just turned 18 years old. I worked hard and poured my heart and soul into this game. I consider myself a student of the game as I have watched, studied and played with and agai
    nst the best players in the world. The NBA was my University and I learned so much. The gratitude I feel is really immeasurable. I have experienced the best moments a player can experience and have had some dark ones too. Both equally important in helping shape me into the man I am today.

    As I leave the league for now, there have been so many profound people who inspired me along my way. I have to say thank you for guiding me and having an enormous influence on the way I played basketball. Isaiah Thomas, Rich Devos, Leslie Alexander and John Gabriel, you believed in me and I thank you. Jeff Van Gundy, you exemplified the brilliance of what a great coach is. Steven A. Smith, you gave us players a voice and for that I thank you. Doug Christy, Charles Oakley, Dee Brown, Mugsy Bogues, Antonio Davis, Dell Curry, Kevin Willis, you all showed a young kid from Auburndale Florida how to be a better player. Kobe, you made me work harder and it was an honor to play against you. And Yao, we shared an experience together that will always be with me, thank you. Sonny & Pam Vaccarro showed me how there is loyalty and genuine friendship in this business. Arn Tellem and Tim Hoy, 15 years and you are still my agents. Thank you for guiding me throughout my career. When all is said and done, there is so many that made an impact on my life. I am one blessed man to have the love and never ending support of my wife CleRenda and the best 4 kids a man can ask for. But most important, I give glory and thanks to God. It is thru Him that I have been so blessed and I am forever thankful.

    As I enter this next chapter, I am excited to play for Qingdao Eagles in China. I have been to China several times in the last few years and I love the people and the country. It will be an honor to play for them. Thank you to every fan that has followed me and believed in me. Injuries and all, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I am proud of the mark I left on this game and am grateful to have been a part this league. It was a dream to play in front of all of you, each night, in every stadium. Thank you.

  • Ismael

    DUDE never made it past the 1st round and you guys think he’s a Hall of Famer?!?!?! That’s just stupid. More guys deserve to be in the Hall than Tracy. If he get’s into the Hall of Fame then the Hall would be a freakin Joke.

  • http://twitter.com/niQknacks niQ

    Definitely going to miss T-Mac! I remember his was the first jersey I ever bought. And I wore the all-white T-Mac1′s to the ground.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    if he gets into the Hall of Fame before Bernard King i’m going to flip the fuck out.

  • russian guy

    Considering Reggie Miller is in the Hall,T-Mac without a doubt needs to get in.

  • russian guy

    100 % agree.It’s a travesty he is not in.Does anyone actually know that Bernard dropped 50s early in the 90s?

  • http://twitter.com/_DFrance DFrance

    Kinda surprised he didn’t mention Vince in that statement. maybe they’re no longer cool. Anyway, he was a great player for a stretch, neck and neck with Kobe in his prime. Just wish he could have stayed healthier.

  • http://twitter.com/_DFrance DFrance

    Penny 2.0

  • Caboose

    They both deserve to be in there, for sure. Reggie is the perfect counter to any Hall argument. If he’s in, Tracy definitely should.

  • Caboose

    If he also retired today, who had the better career, Vince or TMac?

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    really, McGrady only had 8 good years. Reggie was the best player on a team that made it to the finals and was a top SG in the league for over a decade. Of the 3, McGrady definitely deserves a Hall of Fame nod the least. No matter how much you dislike Reggie Miller.
    .
    McGrady never had any real success, and he really wasn’t great for very long.

  • Phil

    An example of immense talent not realized. He had the wrong people talking in his ear, he had the wrong attitude, he had the wrong work ethic and at times lazy with a question mark on his heart.

  • Phil

    The man never got out of the first round ever…when it counted most.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    Tie. They were both complete underachievers

  • LakeShow

    Cop out.
    Vince, because injuries weren’t the key to his lack of success.

  • danpowers

    maybe because most of the time he played for squads that would not have even been able to get anywhere close to the playoffs without him. often getting to the first round at all because he put em on his shoulders was more of a miracle than it wouldve been to have a deep playoff run with a better team.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    You think Vince had a better career because he was healthier? LOL, you don’t discount him for not working on his game at all, and never improving over what he was as a 23 year old?
    .
    I say tie because Carter had a slightly longer run of success, but McGrady was better at his best.

  • Tavoris Sinclair

    I’m not surprised. They’re related, but they didn’t grow up together.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    ehh, there is no excuse for Houston. Or losing that 3-1 lead in Orlando.

  • Tavoris Sinclair

    13 points in 35 seconds. Against my Spurs. That’s all I gotta say.

  • LakeShow

    I don’t know how I worded that so weird. My bad..
    T-Mac is who I think had the better career. Because he was a better player at his peak and injuries is what slowed him down as apposed to Vince just not caring.

  • Caboose

    If I forced you to pick one? Haha

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    i’d take McGrady’s career. At least he cared

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    yeah, that makes way more sense lol

  • charliewinning

    Offensively he was the best guard in the league in his prime, even if he wasn’t the all around player Kobe was. His crossover and handle at 6’8″ was crazy. My second fave player of that era after AI.

  • rainman

    The all white TMacs were my first pair of ball shoes! memories

  • rainman

    As a Toronto resident, i approve.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    No excuse at all for losing that 3-1 lead in Orlando or not getting to the 2nd round with Yao Ming. I’ll always remember the “Feels good to be in the 2nd round” quote.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    T-Mac. Vince got further in the playoffs but he never really seemed to want to take on the role of the best player on the team and not just the most talented. Never really a true leader.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    You dunked on Shawn Bradley too?

  • Caboose

    Yeah, gotta agree with all the thoughts here. That said, does Vince belong in the Hall? If he gets a ring, will he?

  • Caboose

    Maybe he is Shawn Bradley…

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    i personally don’t think so. Vince is the SG version of Derrick Coleman to me.

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