Two of the most electrifying scorers of their era, Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant, went toe-to-toe 21 times on the NBA stage. Fans remember their epic battles and the brilliance both players brought to the court. But behind the fierce competitiveness was something much deeper: a bond far stronger than what played out on the hardwood.
Years after Bryant’s tragic passing, McGrady has opened up about what that relationship truly meant and why the internet still doesn’t fully understand it.
What Did Tracy McGrady Reveal About His Brotherhood With Kobe Bryant?
Speaking on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast hosted by Carmelo Anthony, NBA Hall of Famer McGrady offered a heartfelt look into his connection with the late Lakers legend.
“That’s a brotherhood there,” McGrady said. “It ain’t just no friendship. Like, this is a brotherhood. I call his mom my auntie, bro. You know what I mean? I call his mom and his dad my auntie and my uncle. His sisters – that’s family to me.”
The former Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets star made it clear that their bond ran far deeper than basketball. However, he admitted not everyone understood that connection at the time.
“When you don’t know the relationship, and it’s the internet, you just don’t get it,” McGrady explained. “You’re so attached to an individual of his greatness that you can’t accept anything. Right. And that’s what it was. But I get it.”
Online speculation has long swirled around the dynamics between Bryant and McGrady, especially given their similar trajectories, competitive nature, and Hall of Fame-level talent. McGrady clarified that not only did the two share mutual respect, but he also publicly backed Bryant’s legacy at every turn.
“If you know me, and you know my relationship with my brother, I’m an advocate of always putting Kobe in the top five,” he said. “I’m always battling for my brother out here.”
McGrady and Bryant faced off 21 times in NBA regular-season games. Bryant held a 14-7 record in those matchups, per Land of Basketball. While they never met in the playoffs, their regular-season duels were must-watch clashes defined by elite skills and unrelenting will.
How Deep Was the Mutual Respect Between Bryant and McGrady?
Bryant once called McGrady the most difficult player he ever had to guard.
“There’s a lot of guys, but the guy that always gave me the most problems, actually, was Tracy McGrady,” Bryant said.
That statement carries significant weight, considering Bryant matched up against the likes of Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James during his prime years.
Beyond being rivals on the court, Bryant and McGrady were kindred spirits. Both entered the NBA as teenagers in back-to-back drafts: Bryant in 1996 (No. 13 to Charlotte Hornets, then traded to the Lakers) and McGrady in 1997 (No. 9 to Toronto Raptors).
McGrady, now 46, was devastated when he heard about Bryant’s sudden death in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
“I cried all day, all night,” he told People. “I couldn’t believe it…not Kob…not Kobe.”
That loss was felt deeply by McGrady and across generations of players who looked up to Bryant. Wade, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Draymond Green, and Matt Barnes are just a few among many who cite Bryant’s relentless work ethic and mentality as transformative influences on their careers.
