When Tracy McGrady joined the Orlando Magic in 2000, he had the unenviable task of succeeding fan-favorite but often-injured Penny Hardaway, who went to the Phoenix Suns in the previous offseason. During his six seasons, Orlando fans witnessed Hardaway help steer the team to the Finals alongside Shaquille O'Neal and become the squad's alpha after the big man left for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Only 21 years old at that time, McGrady feeling pressure to step into Penny's shoes would have been understandable. But that wasn't the case, even if he had to wear the No. 1 jersey that Hardaway had donned.
"Naw," T-Mac told SLAM when asked if he felt pressured to use the number. "Penny's my man, but he didn't get along with the people here. This is a different person with a different attitude in this uniform now. I have to look at it like that. Penny's my guy, but it's T-Mac in this '1' now. It's not the same thing."
McGrady's pursuit of being the No. 1 option
It was only appropriate for T-Mac to have No. 1 on his back, considering that being the second option is part of what urged him to leave the Toronto Raptors after just three seasons with the organization that took a flyer on him coming out of high school. The Hall of Famer also attributed his decision not to re-sign to former Raptors coach Butch Carter constantly creating problems .
Moving to Orlando worked out well for T-Mac, as he averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game in his first campaign with the Magic.
Through the following years, he went on to become one of the league's best players. And even though he spent just four seasons in Orlando, McGrady arguably had a better Magic career than Hardaway did, despite the latter playing second-fiddle in a championship-contending squad.
It remains to be seen if the franchise will retire No. 1 in honor of either T-Mac or Penny. Considering that it took so long before Orlando finally raised a jersey (O'Neal's) into the rafters, we might have to wait some more to see if the No. 1 will make it up there.
Tracy overcame the pressure of free agency
Is McGrady feeling the pressure of seeing his jersey up in Amway Arena? Probably not, given that he didn't even experience it when he had to don No. 1 and try to follow in Hardaway's footsteps.
Interestingly, though, it appeared the seven-time All-NBA selection was more pressured by his free agency in 2000, saying as much in the interview with SLAM.
"That's another great question," he said about the difference between T-Mac as a free agent and as an official Magic member. "I just feel a lot better now, more relaxed. Signing the deal means there's a lot of [pressures] that have been released. Starting today, I can get back into my workouts."
"I ain't got to worry about all of these different reporters calling me. I ain't got to worry about Alonzo [Mourning] callin' me, asking me to come down there. I don't have to worry about what anybody else is saying about me."
Spoken like a true hoopser, McGrady would rather work out and play ball than negotiate and be recruited by other players. As it turned out, the two-time scoring champion never had to deal with free agency again until 2010.
Related: Tracy McGrady says Adidas lured him away from the University of Kentucky: "I signed for that bag, and that was it"
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