Tracy McGrady uncovers why he choose to wear #1 on his jersey: “Penny became my idol… I saw myself in Penny”
Tracy McGrady was one of the most gifted offensive forces in the NBA. His career started in Toronto after he was selected ninth overall by the Raptors in the 1997 NBA draft. After a couple of seasons in the league, McGrady began blossoming into a star.
His career didn't truly take off until the 2000-01 season. Prior to that, McGrady was traded to the Orlando Magic in a sign-and-trade deal. In his first season with the Magic, McGrady turned into a league-known superstar. He averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game to make his first NBA All-Star team.
McGrady became one of the most popular players in the league, sporting the number one jersey for the Magic. That same number was worn by a former Orlando Magic superstar by the name of Penny Hardaway.
On a recent episode of "The Pivot Podcast," Tracy McGrady shared that Hardaway was the reason why he wore the number one jersey.
"Penny became my idol, Penny became my inspiration. Because I saw myself in Penny and when I had the opportunity to put on that Jersey I couldn't let my guy down. Because when I tell you bro you couldn't say nothing negative to me about Penny Hardaway like that was my Michael Jordan."
Throughout the episode, McGrady talked about how he idolized Penny Hardaway when he was growing up. McGrady talked about how he viewed Hardaway the same way as how many looked at NBA legend Michael Jordan.
"I remember going to a playoff game when they was playing Miami and Penny dropped 42 that night and I went to his house. Now the first time I met Michael Jordan, I was in high school. They were playing in the playoffs against Atlanta, MJ just killed them.
"So I'm in the back, you know, somehow my coaches they pulled some string got me in the back so I'm back there Scotty comes out, Rodman comes out, you know.
"Moments later MJ come walking out bro and he was glowing dog. Damn, MJ glowing bro and it was the same I went to Penny's house after that game man and he just had that same effect on me I was like that's my God bro I didn't know what to say but to be in his presence just did everything for me."
Tracy McGrady praises Penny Hardway in podcast episode
Tracy McGrady went on to play for 16 years in the NBA. During that time, he was one of the most gifted two-way players in the entire league. It's always interesting to hear what players some of the greats look up to.
Most of them have similar answers, mentioning talents like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and so on. The situation was different, as Tracy McGrady praised the talent of former Orlando Magic phenom Penny Hardaway.
Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway was a transformational talent in the NBA. He was originally selected third overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1993 NBA draft. That was until a trade saw him shipped to the Orlando Magic, where he would team up with superstar big man Shaquille O'Neal.
Hardaway was immediately a force in the NBA. He was a 6'7" point guard with the playmaking ability to make him a dangerous threat on the court. He made his first All-Star team during his second season, and was a force for the next two years. During that three-year span, Hardaway averaged 21.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game.
“Penny was my Michael Jordan…” Tracy McGrady
Today on the Pivot. No 1 talks about No 1
youtu.be/rX48CbJG95Y https://t.co/1RLzdm3U2K
Injuries derailed the superstar upside that Hardaway had in his career. He would still go on to play a total of 14 years in the NBA. For a player like Tracy McGrady, it's not difficult to see why he was such a fan of the Orlando Magic great. McGrady was also a force on the offensive side of the ball with the versatility to give opponents nightmares.