Future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady is on the hot seat. His comments comparing how anybody can win an NBA championship but not everyone can get inducted into the Hall of Fame received criticism from all sides. He himself wasn’t able to carry his team to the NBA Finals, much less go past the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
McGrady’s remarks did not sit well with Jr Smith of the Cleveland Cavaliers, criticizing the seven-time NBA All-Star on Twitter. His comparison of winning an NBA title and being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame was the receiving end of Smith's recent tirades.
This man really said "anyone can win a ring but not everyone can make it to the Hall Of Fame?" Soooo no one else thinks that dumb as hell???
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) July 31, 2017
"No rings, no rings"
Appearing at the Hall of Fame's 60 Days of Summer Program, McGrady addressed comments from social media, mocking him with the phrase: “No rings, no rings”, upon learning of his inclusion in the Hall of Fame. In response, the two-time NBA leading scorer instead blamed his former teammates and bad luck for not winning an NBA title.
“You have to have a great team and some luck to get a ring, right? Unfortunately, I wasn't blessed with that,” McGrady said. His message is very clear: his teammates were the reason he doesn't wear an NBA championship ring.
Tracy Mcgrady was the leader of his team when he played for the Orlando Magic, and later, the Houston Rockets. As the leader, he was the one who failed to lead his team to the NBA Finals. In fact, he failed to lead them past the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
If not for the San Antonio Spurs (which he joined in 2013 before the trade deadline expired), McGrady wouldn't know how it feels to play in the NBA Finals.
Sadly, the Spurs lost against the Miami Heat -- led by the Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Miami won 4-3, and McGrady had two scoreless games during the NBA Finals.
"Anybody can win a championship"
Aside from putting the blame on his teammates, McGrady also defended his nomination into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
For him, “Anybody can win a championship. Everybody can't get in the Hall of Fame.”
His words did not sit well with JR Smith. For the Cavaliers enforcer, McGrady only tried to etch his name into the Hall of Fame and did not really tried his best to win an NBA title.
So you played for the Hall an not to win. If I was on his team we fighting idc if we don't play no more. Don't waste my time. Not wit hoop!
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) July 31, 2017
Tracy McGrady will be officially inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 8. The Class of 2017 includes Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self, Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball head coach Muffet McGraw, and former WNBA player and now ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo.
