There are a few NBA fans who don’t remember Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal’s championship runs with the Los Angeles Lakers. While O’Neal went on to play with multiple other teams, Bryant — who tragically passed away in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020 — spent his entire NBA career in Los Angeles.
Naturally, the two NBA icons are often included in GOAT debates, primarily thanks to their multiple title wins. Of course, not all opinions are the same.
Tracy McGrady Comments About Kobe Bryant’s Championship Win With Shaquille O’Neal
Earlier this year, Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady went viral for his comments on the “First Take” podcast. According to McGrady, if one were to replace him with Bryant alongside O’Neal, he, too, could have brought home titles.
In fact, three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas added that McGrady was actually better than Bryant during his prime (early 2000s). Nick Young, who was on the podcast “Gil’s Arena,” disagreed with McGrady and McGrady.
Tracy McGrady says you don’t have to be a Kobe-level player to win a championship with a dominant player like Shaq
“I’m not saying I’m Kobe. I don’t have to be Kobe to play with Shaq and win a championship. D-Wade proved that, didn’t he? D-Wade proved that. We’re talking about a… pic.twitter.com/GCMYXrFakT
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 21, 2025
Many fans who commented saw it as an insult to Bryant and his legacy, calling out T-Mac for thinking he’s better than the Lakers legend.
McGrady, who recently appeared on “The Arena,” clarified that his intention wasn’t to insult Bryant. In fact, he sees him as one of the greatest. However, McGrady also reaffirmed his statement.
“When I look at who I was as a player at this time and I’m looking at Shaq, the most dominant basketball player, and I’m looking I’m seeing myself playing with a cat like Shaq based off of the conversation around ring culture,” McGrady said.
“Hell yeah, I would have won a ring with the Big Fella, right? And the reason I say that because when you go back to early 2000s and you look on that All-NBA list, who’s right there with Kobe? I’m on that first team. (…) But when I look at when I look at the player who I was at this specifically term, I’m not saying I’m Kobe. I don’t have to be Kobe to play with Shaq and win a championship. D-Wade proved that, didn’t he? D-Wade proved that.”
According to McGrady, his comments were based on the ring culture, and during his time in the 2000s — when he made the All-NBA First Team — there was a realistic chance of him winning the title.
McGrady Clears Up Air Around ‘Replacing’ Bryant
Clearing up his comments, McGrady revealed no intention of ‘replacing’ Bryant. Reminding people that he was one of Bryant’s biggest advocates, McGrady said:
“…If anybody took disrespect to what I said, it’s on you, right? Cuz I didn’t mean it wasn’t no disrespect to my brother Bean. Top five wherever y’all have him. For me, he’s one of the greatest and I put him in that top five all time.”
McGrady, the 9th overall pick in 1997, played for the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, and San Antonio Spurs. A seven-time NBA All-Star (2001-2007), McGrady was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.
He announced his retirement in August 2013.
