Tracy McGrady recently shared candid details about his early financial struggles and the vital role Kobe Bryant played in helping him navigate those challenges.
On the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast with Carmelo Anthony, McGrady admitted he never felt fully in control of his finances during his NBA career.
“I never felt like I had it under control. Ever,” McGrady said, via HoopsHype. “I was trying to control it the best way I possibly could because I didn’t have the knowledge. I’m young. I’m just maneuvering through this by trial and error.”
The Hall of Famer explained that his lack of financial education left him vulnerable, but he leaned on Bryant for advice throughout his career.
“Having Kobe at the time, I could pick up the phone, call Kobe,” McGrady continued. “He’s somebody that I leaned on religiously at that time. Very intelligent person. He’s very grounded. He comes from a two-parent home. Like his structure and my structure are totally two different structures.”
McGrady noted that Bryant’s background and discipline helped him develop a better approach to his money and career decisions.
“I needed to have that conversation and learn from him, who had the structure and the intelligence to help me maneuver through this that I knew nothing about,” he said.
Their connection was strengthened because they shared the same agency and both were Adidas athletes, making it easier to reach out.
“I could just pick up the phone and call my man and be like, ‘Yo, I’m struggling with this. What should I do?’” McGrady recalled. “And he was so gracious enough to give me the game. That was through our whole career.”
