NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady recently opened up about his memorable debut with the New York Knicks, sharing the highs and lows of that night on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast with Carmelo Anthony.
Speaking about his first game in a Knicks uniform, McGrady described facing off against a young Oklahoma City Thunder squad featuring Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden.
“We’re playing against Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. And I’m feeling good out there,” McGrady said, via HoopsHype. “I scored 26 in the first half, giving them the work right on one leg.”
The former scoring champion explained that despite his strong start, the adrenaline quickly wore off. “Man, that next game I tried to play with the same adrenaline, it wasn’t there anymore. I was trash. Straight trash,” he admitted.
McGrady’s debut in New York was a bright moment in what turned out to be a brief and challenging stint with the franchise. After that performance, headlines suggested “Mac is back,” but his own words reflected the difficulty of sustaining that level given his injuries and conditioning at the time.
Carmelo Anthony, who joined the Knicks shortly after McGrady’s tenure, added his own perspective during the podcast, saying, “Then… New York ain’t it. No, sir,” acknowledging the struggles both stars experienced under the pressure of Madison Square Garden.
