Kobe Bryant doesn’t want to become next Tracy McGrady
By Bryan Rose
When you compare the career of Kobe Bryant to that of Tracy McGrady, they’re not even on the same plateau. Bryant is among the greatest to ever play the game while T-Mac, very talented in his own right, was more of a multi-year wonder than legendary player.
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That’s not to devalue what Tracy McGrady did in the league as he was an All-Star talent, but career wise Kobe Bryant is the far better player. Of course, sports have become more of a ‘what have you done for me lately’ spectacle and Kobe Bryant hasn’t do much other than be injured.
Many question if the Los Angeles Lakers star will ever be the player he once was, especially given his age. That has understandably become a worry of Bryant himself, who self-admits that he’s not the player he once was. But might he fall off the face of the map due to injury? It’s something Kobe Bryant wants no part of as Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report suggests the Black Mamba doesn’t want to become the next T-Mac.
"In a broader sense, Bryant is very much determined not to become McGrady…or anything close to him. McGrady doesn’t motivate Bryant, per se, yet his presence a year after retiring at age 34 can’t help remind what disappointment could await if Bryant doesn’t adhere to his same standards now that his body and game have changed."
Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady are good friends and continue to work out together, so while he may not be motivated by Bryant, he constantly has a reminder of what could be if things don’t go according to plan.
Still, with a work ethic like Bryant, you’d be hard pressed to think Kobe will go down a similar path.
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