Tracy McGrady’s bond with the Orlando Magic still runs deep, and now there’s at least been some talk about whether that connection could someday be honored in a bigger way.
On a recent episode of Portfolio Players, McGrady spoke about how much the franchise still means to him and described the relationship as something that will always stay with him. That makes sense given where his story began. McGrady was born in Bartow, Fla., and raised in Auburndale, a Central Florida town a little over an hour southwest of Orlando, so the Magic were never just any team to him.
His time in Orlando also gave that connection real weight. McGrady played four seasons for the Magic and averaged 28.1 points, seven rebounds, and 5.2 assists during that stretch. His peak came in 2002 to 2004, when he put up 32.1 points and 28 points in those two seasons, the highest marks of his career by far.
The ending in Orlando was messy. After the 2003-04 season, McGrady asked to be moved following growing tension with the front office after a 21-61 season, and he was traded to the Houston Rockets. He went on to play eight more NBA seasons, including five with Houston.
McGrady’s story has even drawn a comparison to LeBron James, the Akron, Ohio, native who spent 11 seasons across two stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and helped deliver the franchise’s first NBA title in 2016.
The bigger question, though, is whether Orlando might eventually give McGrady the same kind of recognition it gave Shaquille O’Neal. McGrady said on the show that he had conversations with personnel around the time O’Neal had his jersey retired in 2024. He said he does not know when or if his own jersey will be retired, but he made clear that the discussion happened.
Portfolio Players also reported that a source inside the organization confirmed McGrady’s jersey retirement has been considered, though no timeline has been set.
In Other News...
Jalen Suggs Gives Magic A Boost That Stats Wont Explain
The Magic finally got their first home win of the NBA Cup season by beating the Bucks 107-99, and Jalen Suggs was part of the story even if the box score barely hinted at it. Back from an eight-game absence with a knee injury, Suggs came off the bench for 21 minutes and finished with three points, two rebounds and three assists, giving Orlando another ballhandler and a familiar edge in a game that mattered in the standings and in the building.
Sean Sweeney made it clear afterward that the value went well beyond the shooting line. Even on a night when the offense did not come easily, Suggs helped the Magic with his pressure at the point of attack, his ability to get downhill and his playmaking, the kind of contribution Orlando has missed during his time out. The numbers were modest, but the lift was obvious in the way the game felt when he was on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Franz Wagners Huge Night Came With A Twist Magic Fans Need To See
Franz Wagner put together the kind of all-around night that usually ends with a headline all its own against the Bucks, piling up 35 points, 12 assists and what initially looked like 10 rebounds. For a moment, it seemed the Magic wing had checked off his first career triple-double, a milestone that would have fit neatly with the way he has been carrying Orlandos offense lately.
The twist came after the game, when the final bookkeeping changed the picture and left Wagner just short of that mark. Even so, the performance extended his streak to four straight games with at least 30 points, placing him in some notable franchise company and reinforcing how central he has become to the Magics attack. [Read more 🡒]
Franz Wagner Just Showed Why The Magic Offense Feels Different
Franz Wagners latest outing was another reminder that Orlandos offense looks different when he is driving it. In the 107-99 win over Milwaukee, he was the kind of all-around hub the Magic have been searching for, piling up points, creating for teammates and helping keep the attack moving in a way that has become more visible as the season has gone on.
The broader trend matters just as much as the box score. Orlando has been getting better scoring in the paint and finding more ways to generate offense, and Jalen Suggs recent return from injury has added another layer as he works back into form. The encouraging part for the Magic is that this no longer feels like a one-night spike, but the next question is how far this version of the offense can carry once the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]