Fansided

5 greatest moments in Tracy McGrady’s Hall of Fame career

By Philip Rossman-Reich

LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 15: Tracy McGrady #1 of the Eastern Conference All-Stars dunks against Kevin Garnett #21 of the Western Conference All-Stars during the 2004 All-Star Game on February 15, 2004 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 15: Tracy McGrady #1 of the Eastern Conference All-Stars dunks against Kevin Garnett #21 of the Western Conference All-Stars during the 2004 All-Star Game on February 15, 2004 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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62 points

The 2003 season for the Orlando Magic was extremely forgettable. After three straight playoff appearances, the Magic collapsed and not even Tracy McGrady could carry them to the postseason. The loss of Grant Hill was too big and the Magic’s rotating group of supporting players finally came up craps. The Magic went 21-61 and McGrady struggled handling his new leadership duties.

That did not mean there were not many highlights that season. This is Tracy McGrady, after all. And while he was on the floor, he was going to do what he is best at — score.

That meant sometimes he would have special nights. So in a 21-win season, McGrady would put in some incredible scoring performances. Mostly because no one else could help him carry the burden.

That is what happened on a sleepy March evening with his team well out of the playoff race.

McGrady dropped 62 points on the Washington Wizards and it felt completely natural. Of course, he did.

McGrady was 20-for-37 from the floor. The team was bad enough that Gilbert Arenas and the Wizards kept things tighter. That only forced McGrady to score more. And that is all McGrady wanted to do. He just kept coming and attacking the Wizards’ defense. They were powerless to stop him.

The headline in the Orlando Sentinel the next day was simply “62!” It is a single game scoring record that still stands for the Magic and has no sign of going away (not with the current roster).

McGrady said he was fairly restless at that point in the year. He was disappointed with how the Magic’s season had gone. It felt like he was suiting up to get things over with. But once the challenge fo scoring more and more came, McGrady’s instincts activated and he put on a truly special performance.

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