Site icon Side Action

Tracy McGrady Takes Shot at James Harden For ‘Shutting it Down’

Tracy McGrady smiles as he speaks during his enshrinement into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in Springfield, Mass. McGrady is a seven-time NBA All-Star and a two-time NBA scoring champion who played for seven NBA teams in his 16 season pro career. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

Tracy McGrady isn’t  holding back.

Appearing on The Big Podcast with Shaq, McGrady and host Shaquille O’Neal began debating whether some of the top stars of today would flourish in another time. McGrady made the point that Antetokounmpo might not be the dominant force he is now.

“I think he would have struggled because of how closed up the paint was back then,” McGrady said at the 14:42 mark. “… It was tough offensively because the defense was so great and the paint was closed up.

“If you can’t shoot, it’s going to be hard. And Giannis’ game is predicated on coming downhill. He’s developed a little jump shot now, but I think it would’ve been tough for him to be who he is today back then.”

A few days earlier T-Mac called out James Harden for faking an injury. He accused Harden of taking himself out of the lineup when things went bad in Brooklyn.

“We all know Philly was his first choice [last season] before he went to Brooklyn, so when things hit the fan he wanted out of there. He shut it down,” McGrady said on the NBA on TNT pregame show Tuesday. “He wasn’t hurt. He wasn’t hurt. He shut it down. Y’all think he’s hurt right now?”

T-Mac’s resume speaks for itself, so he’s allowed to say what’s on his mind.

That being said, I’m pretty sure Giannis could have played well in any era. The man is a freak of nature.

As far as his Harden comments, no arguments there.


Welcome to the game outside the game! Follow us on our Sideaction Twitter handle, Instagram, and Facebook for the latest on sports and pop culture news across the web!