Tracy McGrady blasts ‘myth’ of alleged 3-1 comment from 2003 Magic-Pistons series

In a plot twist in the playoffs, the Orlando Magic are up, 3-1, against the Detroit Pistons in their first-round series after hacking out the win, 94-88, in Game 4 at Kia Center on Monday.

For longtime fans of the Magic, it is deja vu from over two decades ago. In 2003, Orlando was also ahead, 3-1, against Detroit in their first-round matchup in the playoffs.

Tracy McGrady, then the Magic’s star, reportedly commented that “it feels good to get into the second round,” implying that they will surely finish off the Pistons.

Well, it did not happen. Detroit beat Orlando in Game 7. McGrady was widely chastised for his premature remark.

However, in a report from The Athletic’s Devon Henderson, the Hall of Famer denied that he made the infamous statement, describing it as a “myth.”

“It was a joke in the interview session, of me making that joke, ‘Oh, we finally get to go to the second round.’ OK? It was a joke,” claimed McGrady.

“You know how the media is. You can’t find a video of me actually saying that.”

After winning in Game 4, Orlando lost the next three games. Detroit’s gamble to use a then-unknown Tayshaun Prince to shadow McGrady worked. McGrady only shot 36.3% from the field from Game 5 to Game 7, with Prince seeing increased minutes after barely getting playing time in the first four games.

Since then, McGrady became notorious for failing to get past the first round in the playoffs, including three straight instances with the Magic.

The only time he made it past the opening round was when he joined the San Antonio Spurs at the tail-end of his career in 2013. He, however, did not play during that run due to various injuries.

The Magic now have a good chance to erase the stigma of McGrady’s awful experience against the Pistons.