NEW ORLEANS – Tracy McGrady, announced as a Hall of Fame finalist Saturday morning, unloaded on Knicks president Phil Jackson and stated Carmelo Anthony has every right to razz the Zen Master during Garden games.
Now a broadcaster, McGrady was a high-flying, seven-time All-Star who played part of the 2009-10 season with the Knicks during the final, rickety stages of his career. Jackson antagonized Anthony with a recent tweet, endorsing an anti-Anthony column and comparing him to NBA bust Michael Graham.
“Melo’s very unique,’’ McGrady said at the New Orleans Arena. “All that s–t going on with Melo and Phil, and Phil has the arrogance to sit in the stands at these games. And [if] I’m playing great basketball — I’m looking at him every trip down the court to do something, gazing at him: ‘See the s–t I’m doing out here?’ Some players can play through that. Some players can’t. Melo is showing his mental toughness. Because playing in the Garden is not an easy place to play.”
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Carmelo gets pity from All-Stars – and a Clippers plea 0:0 NEW ORLEANS — The All-Star break doesn’t mean there is… McGrady, who was coming off microfracture surgery, got traded from Houston to the Knicks in the 2009-2010 season. The Knicks were hoping to catch lightning in a bottle but more so were clearing cap space in the maneuver. McGrady played 24 games, averaging 9.4 points on 39 percent shooting, often sitting out with knee soreness.
“It was a very dark time for me,’’ McGrady said. “The reason is I knew where my career was going. Having that microfracture surgery, I wasn’t going to be the same player. It was devastating for me. I knew what [Chris] Webber and [Tim] Hardaway went through — had the same surgery and never recovered from it. It was a blow to me.”
McGrady’s 26-point Knicks debut was the most memorable night of that season, with a charged crowd giving him a standing ovation. McGrady, Webber and Hardaway were named Hall finalists at a press conference Saturday.
“I had a good game, too,’’ said McGrady, a two-time scoring champion with the Magic. “It was all adrenaline though. Playing for those [24] games was fun. The Garden is the mecca. Who wouldn’t want to play at the Garden? But I wish I was healthy.”
Meanwhile, Draymond Green, already highly critical of owner James Dolan because of Charles Oakley’s arena arrest, said he’s also ticked at the Knicks because of the Anthony-Jackson feud.
“The way he’s been treated pisses me off,” Green said. “I don’t hope he gets out of New York, but I just hope he is in the best situation possible for what’s he’s done for the game. He’s been a great ambassador for the game. From his younger days to now, his image, the way he carries himself and represents the NBA brand is incredible. I just want to see him happy. If that’s in New York, I’d love to see him in New York. If that’s elsewhere. I’d love to see him elsewhere.’’
Asked what he would think if Anthony is traded to Los Angeles, Green said, “If he’s with the Clippers, I’d want to destroy him.”
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