Tracy McGrady believes his prime years would have been enough to capture a championship alongside Shaquille O’Neal.
During a recent appearance on The Arena, the Hall of Famer reflected on his dominance in the early 2000s and how it could have translated into success if paired with the legendary center. McGrady emphasized that a player didn’t need to reach Kobe Bryant’s level to thrive next to O’Neal.
“When I look at who I was as a player at this time and I’m looking at Shaq, the most dominant basketball player … hell yeah, I would have won a ring with the Big Fella,” McGrady said, via HoopsHype.
The seven-time All-Star pointed to his placement on the All-NBA First Team during that era as proof that he was among the league’s elite. While he acknowledged Bryant’s greatness, McGrady said he could have complemented O’Neal without having to replicate Kobe’s impact.
“I’m not saying I’m Kobe. I don’t have to be Kobe to play with Shaq and win a championship,” McGrady continued. “D-Wade proved that, didn’t he?”
McGrady referenced Dwyane Wade’s 2006 championship with Miami, where the young guard paired with O’Neal to bring the franchise its first title. Wade’s Finals MVP run illustrated that Shaq’s dominance allowed different types of star players to succeed next to him.
From 2001 to 2003, McGrady was widely considered one of the NBA’s top five players. He averaged 32.1 points per game in 2002-03 with Orlando, cementing his status as one of the league’s most prolific scorers.
O’Neal, meanwhile, powered the Los Angeles Lakers to three straight championships from 2000 to 2002. His combination of size, skill, and efficiency made him virtually unstoppable, especially when paired with Bryant’s perimeter scoring.
Despite never advancing past the first round of the playoffs during his prime, McGrady was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.
