NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady has revealed that he was preparing to attend the University of Kentucky before a lucrative endorsement opportunity from Adidas convinced him to bypass college and enter the NBA directly out of high school.
McGrady, who became one of the most talented scorers of his generation, explained that Kentucky had been his preferred destination after visiting the school and being recruited by then-head coach Rick Pitino.
However, Pitino’s departure for the Boston Celtics created a coaching change, with Tubby Smith taking over the program ahead of the 1997-98 season.
“I was going to Kentucky, bro. I went to my visit… and Kentucky had me. It was Rick Pitino that was recruiting me. But then Rick Pitino left and went to the Boston Celtics. Tubby Smith ended up taking over. So that would have been my freshman year, and they won the championship that year.”
Kentucky went on to capture the 1998 NCAA championship under Smith, meaning McGrady could have been part of a national title-winning team had he followed through with his original college plans.
Instead, the opportunity to begin earning money through a major endorsement agreement proved too attractive to pass up.
“But Adidas came in, had an offer on the table for me, and I was like, ‘Ah, I can’t go to college.’”
During the conversation, fellow former NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire pointed out that college athletes did not have the same opportunities to profit from their name, image and likeness that exist today.
“Yeah, cuz NIL, wasn’t NIL back then.”
McGrady agreed that the financial opportunity presented by Adidas played a decisive role in his decision.
At the time, accepting a professional endorsement agreement would have prevented him from maintaining NCAA eligibility.
“It’s too shiny over here, what Adidas doing. Ended up getting drafted ninth, lottery pick, to Toronto Raptors.”
McGrady ultimately declared for the 1997 NBA Draft and was selected ninth overall by Toronto, beginning a professional career that would eventually earn him seven NBA All-Star selections and two scoring titles.
After developing with the Raptors, McGrady became one of the league’s leading offensive players during his time with the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.
