The Athletic NBA Daily Predicting the NBA season with Tracy McGrady
10 snips
Oct 21, 2025 Tracy McGrady, Hall of Famer and NBA studio analyst, shares his insights on the preseason and the upcoming NBA season. He highlights rising stars like Cooper and Ace Bailey, and discusses the Cleveland Cavaliers’ strengths, particularly Evan Mobley's growth. McGrady reflects on the New York Knicks' challenges and assesses the Houston Rockets' playoff potential. He advocates for a return to one-on-one contests at All-Star Weekend and critiques current training styles, emphasizing originality in player development. His rapid-fire predictions reveal his picks for the toughest defenders and contenders.
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NBC Shaped His Basketball Love
- McGrady describes growing up watching NBC in the early ’90s as pivotal to his love of basketball.
- That nostalgia influences his motivation to bring classic presentation to today's global NBA audience.
Wembanyama Is A Once‑In‑A‑Generation Player
- Tracy McGrady sees Victor Wembanyama as a generational, multi-dimensional star mixing skills from many legends.
- He predicts Wembanyama will dominate offensively and defensively for a decade and change how we watch basketball.
Cavs' Defense Is The Foundation For Contention
- McGrady rates the Cavaliers highly because of their defense led by Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
- He expects Donovan Mitchell to become more of a facilitator while Evan Mobley takes a bigger offensive step.