Tracy McGrady – Injury Curse
Words by Brandon Ribak
Tracy McGrady has never played an entire 82 game NBA season in his 11 year career. Ailing injuries and unfortunate luck have pushed T-Mac back from becoming one of the best players in the league, getting into the Hall of Fame, and most of all, winning a Championship.
2000 season
Tracy McGrady was dealt to the Orlando Magic where he would play alongside Grant Hill. The two of them had a chance to bring the Magic to the playoffs, and possibly take it all the way. But with bad luck on Tracy’s side, Hill played only 4 games that season due to an ankle injury. The team ended up losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Milwaukee Bucks.
2005-2006 season
In the beginning of the 05-06 season, Tracy complained about multiple back spasms and missed 8 games because of the injury. In January of the same season, T-Mac faced the Denver Nuggets where he was taken out of the game on a stretcher because of severe back spasms. He missed 5 games due to the re-occurring injury. The Rockets couldn’t win games without Tracy alongside of them and missed the playoffs that season.
Loading ...2006-2007 season
Once again, back spasms prevent Tracy from playing in 7 games near the start of the season. When returning, T-Mac said that he was not the same anymore. He stated that the pain in his back slowed him down and prevented him from being as explosive as he used to be. But when 7’6″ Yao Ming went down with a leg injury, T-Mac was forced to step his game up. Tracy carried his team for the rest of the season averaging 24.6 points per game, a career high 6.5 assists, 5.3 boards, with 1.3 steals and ended the season with the 5th best record in the league. They lost the playoffs in the first round to the Utah Jazz.
2007-2008 season
On November 15, 2007, T-Mac injures his elbow, and an X-ray reveals that it is just a minor strain. December 10, 2007, Tracy leaves the game due to an ankle injury and does not return.
December 15, 2007, T-Mac injures his left knee in the first quarter, but comes back to play in the second half.
December 19, 2007- T-Mac is noticeably limping during the game with a sore left knee and is replaced for the rest of the game.
December 20, 2007- McGrady misses his next game with a sore left knee.
December 23, 2007- T-Mac aggravates his left knee and expects to miss some time.
January 3, 2008- MRI solves that T-mac has a strained popliteal tendon, and is expected to be out for a week.
January 19, 2008- T-Mac’s first appearance on the court after missing 11 games due to his knee injury.
April 9, 2008- Sits out because of soreness in his strained and bruised left shoulder.
Tracy ended the season missing 16 games. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and shoulder, needing at least 3 months of recovery.
2008-2009 season
It has been only 11 games into the season so far and Tracy McGrady is already down with a knee injury. This time it seems more serious than ever before. Tracy said to reporters that he feels like he is back to square one again. He left the game in the first minute of the second half, after re-aggravating his left knee. T-Mac stated that he has sharp pain going through his knee and feels as if he never had surgery this off-season. “I’m feeling the same pain,” T-Mac says.
So what is going to happen with Tracy McGrady this season? Will he ever be able to stay healthy for an entire season and win a Championship before he retires? Will his ailing knee, shoulder, and back even let him continue to play his game of basketball?
Predictions: If T-Mac’s injuries continue to occur, he won’t be able to play like the Super-Star player we know and love anymore. Tracy will either have to fight through his pain to play the game he loves, or he will be forced to retire.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Lets see some feedback! what do you guys think about T-Mac !
McGrady to me is just like his cousin Vince. An outstanding talent, who showed flashes of being a top 5 player at times in his career, but never could put it all together to take his team to the next level.
honestly coming from a bitter Magic fan I wanna say who cares this guy cant win a playoff series but i just cant. He is an outstanding talent and really tries as hard as he can game in and game out. Its unfortunate that he cant stay healthy with the talent that surrounds him this year. I think hes an all around better player than cousin vince when healthy and deserves an 82 game injury less season.
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