McGrady, the NBA veteran and former All-Star guard from Texas, has been a controversial figure in the league for his open criticism of players. Recently he claimed that some of these players are too soft to win on an annual basis. McGrady also stated that this “softness” is due to their age difference with older veterans who have taken advantage of them through physicality and experience
“The players aren’t to blame. They’re not bad people. They just need a little bit more leadership.”
Young NBA fans are probably sick of hearing their parents or grandparents gripe about how “soft” the league is now compared to when they were children. When older basketball fans argue whether a player from this generation is better than a player from the 1990s (such as LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan), they invariably think today’s players aren’t tough enough.
Tracy McGrady, a former NBA player, has addressed the issue. While he acknowledges that the league is “soft,” he does not hold the players responsible.
Today’s NBA teams score far more points than they did in the 1990s.
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We had the “Jordan Rules” in the 1990s, when the Detroit Pistons effectively beat up Michael Jordan to prevent him from scoring. We’re concerned about flops today, as well as whether shooters have enough space to land.
Basketball has undergone a significant transformation as a result of the new rules. Previously, defenders were permitted to hand check, making it harder for smaller guards to drive through the lane. After practically all contact with offensive players was banned in 2004-05, those guards can now basically dance their way to the basket and get easy layups anytime they want.
Shooting the ball around the perimeter used to be much more difficult, but officials now call flagrant fouls if defenders don’t allow them enough area to land. As a result, defensive players have been forced to take a step back, giving shooters a lot more room to make their shots.
The alterations have had a big influence on the game.
In 1998-99, for example, teams averaged 91.6 points per game. They averaged 112.1 points per game last season.
And it’s for this reason that older generations, notably Tracy McGrady, refer to the game as “soft.”
Tracy McGrady labeled the NBA’s players’ union’soft,’ but he doesn’t blame them.
On Nov. 15, 2003, Tracy McGrady of the Orlando Magic plays against the Los Angeles Clippers. | Getty Images/Lisa Blumenfeld
Tracy McGrady spoke on The Draymond Green Show recently, and Green questioned the former Orlando Magic star whether he believes he would have had more success in today’s NBA than he had in his. McGrady was at his best from 2000-01 to 2007-08, when teams were still averaging less than 100.0 points per game.
And in response to the topic, McGrady shared his opinion on whether or not the NBA is soft.
On the Jan. 19 show, he remarked, “The rules are a lot different; come on, dude, people hitting 3-pointers are firing shots now, and you fall on somebody’s foot, it’s a flagrant foul.” “How in the world do you compete in shots?” The game is made easier by the rules. It’s not the players who are at fault; it’s the regulations. People seem to assume that when we say the league is soft, we’re talking about the players; we’re talking about rule modifications.”
McGrady makes it plain that he does not believe the “soft” argument should be used to criticize the players, but rather the league as a whole.
The rule modifications may exaggerate certain statistics, further complicating the “who’s better than who” debate. Guys like LeBron James, on the other hand, should not be blamed for bringing in a soft age; he would have dominated in the 1990s as well.
So, do you believe McGrady would have fared better in today’s NBA than he did in his?
Tracy McGrady believes he would be a fantastic player in today’s NBA.
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McGrady was straightforward in his response to Green’s question: he feels he would dominate in this period.
“Would I thrive, then?” “Indeed,” he said. “You must think, man, some of the scores in our day were 75 to f***ing 76.” Finals (scores) were in the 60s, and I’d be in the top 30. That is something I have 35 points in. And it’s not like I was simply another person who scored while holding the ball. No, I was also fishing and shooting. I was in charge of everything. So, sure, I would probably flourish at a top level in today’s game.”
It’s difficult to disagree with McGrady’s position. In 2002-03, he scored 32.1 points per game on a team that scored 95.1. Oh, and let’s not forget the occasion when he scored 13 points in 33 seconds. He was unstoppable then, and he will continue to be unstoppable today.
True ballers, on the other hand, will find a way, and many players today would have flourished in his day.
Basketball Reference provided the statistics.
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“The NBA is soft,” said former NBA superstar Tracy McGrady in an interview with TMZ Sports. “But the players aren’t to blame.” Reference: tracy mcgrady net worth.
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