Tracy McGrady Retires: A Look Back At T-Mac's Greatest Moments

Skip to main contentCome Fan with UsSaturday, January 10, 2026SBNation.com homepageSB NationSB Nation logoNotificationsNotifications

• The Feed
• Breakaway
• Betting
  • FanDuel Sportsbook Odds
  • FanDuel Daily Fantasy Sports
  • Betting Picks and Predictions
• NFL
  • Today's NFL Trivia
  • All NFL
  • Fantasy Football
  • Arizona Cardinals
  • Atlanta Falcons
  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Buffalo Bills
  • Carolina Panthers
  • Chicago Bears
  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Dallas Cowboys
  • Denver Broncos
  • Detroit Lions
  • Green Bay Packers
  • Houston Texans
  • Indianapolis Colts
  • Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Kansas City Chiefs
  • Las Vegas Raiders
  • Los Angeles Rams
  • Miami Dolphins
  • Minnesota Vikings
  • New England Patriots
  • New Orleans Saints
  • New York Giants
  • New York Jets
  • Philadelphia Eagles
  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Los Angeles Chargers
  • San Francisco 49ers
  • Seattle Seahawks
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Tennessee Titans
  • Washington Commanders
• NBA
  • All NBA
  • WNBA
  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Boston Celtics
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Detroit Pistons
  • Golden State Warriors
  • Houston Rockets
  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • New York Knicks
  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Utah Jazz
  • Washington Wizards
• MLB
  • Today's MLB Trivia
  • All MLB
  • Arizona Diamondbacks
  • Atlanta Braves
  • Baltimore Orioles
  • Boston Red Sox
  • Chicago Cubs
  • Chicago White Sox
  • Cincinnati Reds
  • Cleveland Guardians
  • Colorado Rockies
  • Detroit Tigers
  • Houston Astros
  • Kansas City Royals
  • Los Angeles Dodgers
  • Milwaukee Brewers
  • Minnesota Twins
  • New York Mets
  • New York Yankees
  • Oakland Athletics
  • Philadelphia Phillies
  • Pittsburgh Pirates
  • San Diego Padres
  • San Francisco Giants
  • Seattle Mariners
  • St. Louis Cardinals
  • Tampa Bay Rays
  • Texas Rangers
  • Toronto Blue Jays
  • Washington Nationals
• CFB
  • All CFB
  • View team list
• CBB
  • Men’s CBB
  • Men’s Bracketology
  • Women’s CBB
  • View team list
• WNBA
  • All WNBA
  • Swish Appeal
  • Los Angeles Sparks
  • Minnesota Lynx
  • New York Liberty
  • Washington Mystics
• Soccer
  • Football Frenzy
  • All Soccer
  • English Premier League
  • Arsenal
  • Chelsea
  • Everton
  • Liverpool
  • Manchester City
  • Newcastle United
  • Tottenham Hotspur
  • Manchester United
  • German Bundesliga
  • Bayern Munich
  • Dortmund
  • Italian Serie A
  • AC Milan
  • Inter Milan
  • Juventus
  • AS Roma
  • Fiorentina
  • MLS
  • Spanish La Liga
  • Barcelona
  • Real Madrid
  • Atletico Madrid
  • Villarreal
  • Women’s Soccer
  • NWSL
  • Mexican Soccer
  • U.S. Soccer
  • Fantasy Soccer
  • View team list
• More

Navigation Drawer

• Login / Sign Up

closeCloseSearch

• VideoWatch
• PodcastListen
• In Five GamesPlay

• The Feed
• Breakaway
• BettingExpand
  • FanDuel Sportsbook Odds
  • FanDuel Daily Fantasy Sports
  • Betting Picks and Predictions
• NFLExpand
  • Today's NFL Trivia
  • All NFL
  • Fantasy Football
  • Arizona Cardinals
  • Atlanta Falcons
  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Buffalo Bills
  • Carolina Panthers
  • Chicago Bears
  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Dallas Cowboys
  • Denver Broncos
  • Detroit Lions
  • Green Bay Packers
  • Houston Texans
  • Indianapolis Colts
  • Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Kansas City Chiefs
  • Las Vegas Raiders
  • Los Angeles Rams
  • Miami Dolphins
  • Minnesota Vikings
  • New England Patriots
  • New Orleans Saints
  • New York Giants
  • New York Jets
  • Philadelphia Eagles
  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Los Angeles Chargers
  • San Francisco 49ers
  • Seattle Seahawks
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Tennessee Titans
  • Washington Commanders
• NBAExpand
  • All NBA
  • WNBA
  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Boston Celtics
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Detroit Pistons
  • Golden State Warriors
  • Houston Rockets
  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • New York Knicks
  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Utah Jazz
  • Washington Wizards
• MLBExpand
  • Today's MLB Trivia
  • All MLB
  • Arizona Diamondbacks
  • Atlanta Braves
  • Baltimore Orioles
  • Boston Red Sox
  • Chicago Cubs
  • Chicago White Sox
  • Cincinnati Reds
  • Cleveland Guardians
  • Colorado Rockies
  • Detroit Tigers
  • Houston Astros
  • Kansas City Royals
  • Los Angeles Dodgers
  • Milwaukee Brewers
  • Minnesota Twins
  • New York Mets
  • New York Yankees
  • Oakland Athletics
  • Philadelphia Phillies
  • Pittsburgh Pirates
  • San Diego Padres
  • San Francisco Giants
  • Seattle Mariners
  • St. Louis Cardinals
  • Tampa Bay Rays
  • Texas Rangers
  • Toronto Blue Jays
  • Washington Nationals
• CFBExpand
  • All CFB
  • View team list
• CBBExpand
  • Men’s CBB
  • Men’s Bracketology
  • Women’s CBB
  • View team list
• WNBAExpand
  • All WNBA
  • Swish Appeal
  • Los Angeles Sparks
  • Minnesota Lynx
  • New York Liberty
  • Washington Mystics
• SoccerExpand
  • Football Frenzy
  • All Soccer
  • English Premier League
  • Arsenal
  • Chelsea
  • Everton
  • Liverpool
  • Manchester City
  • Newcastle United
  • Tottenham Hotspur
  • Manchester United
  • German Bundesliga
  • Bayern Munich
  • Dortmund
  • Italian Serie A
  • AC Milan
  • Inter Milan
  • Juventus
  • AS Roma
  • Fiorentina
  • MLS
  • Spanish La Liga
  • Barcelona
  • Real Madrid
  • Atletico Madrid
  • Villarreal
  • Women’s Soccer
  • NWSL
  • Mexican Soccer
  • U.S. Soccer
  • Fantasy Soccer
  • View team list
• UFCExpand
  • MMA Fighting
  • MMA Fight Schedule
  • MMA Mania
• NHLExpand
  • All NHL
  • Boston Bruins
  • Carolina Hurricanes
  • Colorado Avalanche
  • New Jersey Devils
  • New York Islanders
  • Pittsburgh Penguins
• Golf
• F1
• Wrestling
• Boxing
• Secret Base Video
• Podcasts
• Newsletters
• Features
• Communities
• Product Updates & Ideas

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Threads
• Instagram
• Youtube
• RSS
• TikTok

SB NationSB Nation logoTracy McGrady retires: A look back at T-Mac’s greatest momentsNotificationsNotifications

• NBA

Tracy McGrady retires: A look back at T-Mac’s greatest moments

We take a look at the best moments from Tracy McGrady’s incredible career. Strap in and enjoy the highlights.

by Brandon WorleyAug 26, 2013, 9:28 PM UTC

• Facebook
• Link

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

After 15 seasons in the NBA, Tracy McGrady announced his retirement live on ESPN's First Take, just two months after his first and only appearance in the NBA Finals. Finishing with career averages of 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, McGrady was one of the premier scorers in the NBA before his career was derailed by injury.

McGrady came into the league with the Toronto Raptors, but it wasn't until he arrived in Orlando in 2000 that the 6'8 guard fully showcased his skills. McGrady could shoot, pass and handle the ball, all while displaying nearly unparalleled power and grace above the rim. At his peak, he battled Kobe Bryant as the NBA's best perimeter player.

After splitting nine seasons between the Orlando Magic and the Houston Rockets, McGrady bounced between the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks, even having a short stint in the Chinese Basketball Association before finally landing with the San Antonio Spurs at the end of last season. The once-prolific scorer was averaging less than 10 points per game the final five seasons of his career, and played in just two games during the Spurs' run to the NBA Finals.

Despite the frustrating end to his career, McGrady graced us with a decade’s worth of highlights and incredible performances that included one of the more remarkable seasons an NBA player has ever enjoyed.

With McGrady deciding to finally and officially retire from the NBA, we look back at his greatest moments that helped define everything that made T-Mac so fun to watch.

Career-high 62 points vs. Wizards

McGrady enjoyed many great games, but March 10, 2004 was certainly one of his very best. T-Mac put up a career-high 62 points against the Washington Wizards. going 20-of-37 from the floor and picking up 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Tracy McGrady will posterize you with no hesitation

McGrady’s greatest skill was his ability to put any and all players in danger of ending up on a poster in the most compromising of positions. The ultimate Tracy McGrady dunk came in the 2005 playoffs, when he launched himself up and over Shawn Bradley, although that is far from the only notable dunk highlight of his career.

McGrady vs. Kobe

When Tracy McGrady caught fire after heading to the Magic, T-Mac vs. Kobe Bryant became of the NBA’s hottest debates. Injuries derailed McGrady’s run at prolonged dominance, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t some epic battles between two of the very best the NBA had to offer during the 2000s.

Both Kobe and T-Mac have stated the other was the toughest player they had to guard in their career. It’s easy to see why when you look at some of their 1-on-1 matchups:

T-Mac's self alley-oop for the monster dunk in NBA All-Star game

McGrady was never one to shy away from theatrics and certainly put on a some dazzling shows during his seven appearances in the All-Star Game. None can come close to when T-Mac threw himself an alley-oop pass off the backboard and slammed it home.

Tracy McGrady vs. Dirk Nowitzki

Kobe may have enjoyed some great 1-on-1 matchups over the years with McGrady, but it was a game against Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks that truly stands out as of the better battles between two players in their prime.

McGrady put up 48 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in a loss to Dallas in 2005, doing everything he could to combat a brilliant 52-point performance by Nowitzki. T-Mac hit six three-pointers, but Nowitzki’s 22 free throw attempts (compared to seven for McGrady) proved too much to overcome for the Rockets.

McGrady scores 13 points in 35 seconds against Spurs

With the Rockets trailing by six points with just 35 seconds remaining, McGrady enjoyed one of the pinnacle moments of his career. Each successive three pointer, four in all, was more difficult and impressive than the last. It all culminated in this shot for the win with just 1.7 seconds remaining.

McGrady’s incredible 2002-2003 season

McGrady had a lot of great years, but none topped his 2002-03 performance. Somehow, McGrady didn’t win the NBA Most Valuable Player that season, even though he averaged 32.1 points, 5.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds per game while carrying an underwhelming Orlando Magic squad to the postseason. The Magic would exit in the first round after taking a 3-1 lead over the Detroit Pistons, but there’s little doubt as to why they were there in the first place.

Tim Duncan, the best player on the best team, would ultimately win the award, with Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett finishing higher than McGrady in the voting. Here are highlights from one game in that season.

More from SB Nation NBA:

• Ziller: Who has the toughest coaching job?

• Jason Kidd wants Deron Williams to pass more

• Looking for Boston’s next “Big Three”

• Dwight reportedly wanted Kobe amnestied, D’Antoni fired

• Ranking the top 100 NBA players of 2017

See More:

• NBA

SB Nation Daily Roundup

A daily roundup of all your sports news

Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content From

This is the title for the native ad

More in NBA

Jan 9Ja Morant trade ideas for 3 teams after Grizzlies put star guard on the marketJan 9Timberwolves fans yell for ICE to leave city during Renee Good moment of silenceJan 8NBA mock draft 2026: Point guard soars up first-round projectionJan 8Trae Young trade grades for Wizards and Hawks after deal for All-Star point guardJan 6NBA All-Star 2026 fan voting results got 4 things right and 4 things wrong thus farJan 56 Trae Young trade ideas with obvious frontrunner as Hawks look for dealNBAJan 9NBAJan 9Ja Morant trade ideas for 3 teams after Grizzlies put star guard on the market

Here’s three teams that could trade for Ja Morant.

By Ricky O'DonnellNBAJan 9NBAJan 9Timberwolves fans yell for ICE to leave city during Renee Good moment of silence

Wolves fans yelled “Go home ICE” before their game on Thursday.

By James DatorNBAJan 8NBAJan 8NBA mock draft 2026: Point guard soars up first-round projection

Here’s our latest NBA mock draft.

By Ricky O'DonnellNBAJan 8NBAJan 8Trae Young trade grades for Wizards and Hawks after deal for All-Star point guard

Let’s grade the Trae Young trade for both the Wizards and Hawks.

By Ricky O'DonnellNBAJan 6NBAJan 6NBA All-Star 2026 fan voting results got 4 things right and 4 things wrong thus far

Here’s what the fans have right and wrong so far with their NBA All-Star voting.

By Ricky O'DonnellNBAJan 5NBAJan 56 Trae Young trade ideas with obvious frontrunner as Hawks look for deal

There is a clear favorite as the Trae Young trade sweepstakes begin.

By Ricky O'DonnellAdvertiser Content From

This is the title for the native ad

The Latest

4:47 AM UTCCollege Football Playoff is Curt Cignetti’s world now, and we’re all just lucky to be living in it4:08 AM UTCCollege Football Playoff National Championship: Instant prediction for Miami-IndianaJan 9Anthony Davis’ injury could be blessing in disguise for MavsJan 9FromThe Crimson QuarryBreaking down the sheer cosmic irony of an all-Big Ten, Indiana-Oregon Peach BowlJan 9FromAddicted To QuackCollege Football Playoff: Why Oregon needs Dante Moore to step up vs. Indiana in Peach BowlJan 9FromState of The UFilm Review, Fiesta Bowl: Miami Hurricanes 31 - Ole Miss Rebels 27