Patrick Beverley says Tracy McGrady 'in that conversation' with Kobe Bryant
Philadelphia 76ers guard Patrick Beverley had some interesting comments on a recent episode of his podcast while talking with seven-time All-Star Tracy McGrady.
"If you win a championship you're in that conversation with Kobe, like without a doubt," Beverley told McGrady.
"Yeah...Yeah," McGrady responded. That was a conversation of who was the best in players in the league. It was me and Kobe."
Here's the full interaction.
That's a ridiculous take. Disrespectful even to the late, great Kobe Bryant, a legend and one of the greatest players to ever touch the basketball court.
Setting aside team accomplishments and Kobe's extensive playoff resume, which includes two Finals MVP awards and five championships (achievements to which McGrady doesn't come remotely close), Kobe unequivocally surpasses McGrady purely as an individual player on the court, and no, it shouldn't even be a subject of debate.
Both are two-time scoring champions, but Kobe averaged 27 or more points nine times, peaking at 35.4 in 2005-06. Meanwhile McGrady did that only twice, peaking with the Orlando Magic in 2002-03 at 32.1
The conversation loses any credibility when it comes to defense. As a 12-time All-Defensive team member, Kobe was one of the best on-ball defenders in the NBA and one of the best defending guards during his tenure in the NBA. It's the most significant part of Kobe's game that gets forgotten. He possessed the ability to completely shut down the opponent in front of him.
However, Kobe admitted that McGrady is the toughest player he's ever had to guard. Despite this, outside of the single season in 2002-03, McGrady has no business saying he belongs in the same conversation as the Black Mamba.
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