Dwight Howard is officially set to become the 13th inductee into the Orlando Magic’s Hall of Fame. So the question comes: who’s the greatest to ever wear a Magic jersey? For many, Shaquille O’Neal’s name has dominated that conversation. But last year, even Shaq had to admit Howard’s supremacy in Orlando. When asked who the franchise’s all-time leading scorer was, the big man hesitated before finally revealing his answer: Dwight Howard. Given the history between these two Superman, that moment said it all.
“Dwight Howard left an undeniable imprint on the history of the Orlando Magic,” Magic CEO Alex Martins said during the HoF announcement. “From being the first overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, to our trip to the 2009 NBA Finals, Dwight’s work helped us achieve great success during his eight seasons in a Magic uniform, both on the court and in the community.”
But not just Shaq or now Howard, there is another Magic legend who earned this honor: Tracy McGrady. “Home-grown in Central Florida, T-Mac wowed us with his talent on a nightly basis, while making compassionate contributions in the community,” Martins said in 2018. So now, there is another question – does T-Mac have the edge over Howard? Let’s dive in.
Tracy McGrady’s brilliance vs. Dwight Howard’s dominance
Let’s start with Tracy McGrady—one of the most electrifying scorers the NBA has ever seen. During his time with the Magic, he was a one-man show, carrying a team that lacked serious championship pieces. Despite that, his numbers were absurd – 28.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game in 295 games. There was no denying his talent, but without the right support, deep playoff runs were out of reach.
Still, McGrady kept leveling up. The Magic tried adding a few more pieces, including a 39-year-old Patrick Ewing, but it was T-Mac who took things to another level. By the 2002-03 season, he was an unstoppable force, averaging 32.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists with a 56.1 True Shooting percentage. His Player Efficiency Rating (PER) soared to 30.3, joining an elite group of players to ever achieve that mark while playing over 50 games. Some even argue he should have won MVP over Tim Duncan that year.
McGrady followed that up with another scoring title, averaging 28 points per game in 2003-04. A four-time All-Star in Orlando, he racked up two first-team All-NBA selections and was named the league’s Most Improved Player in 2000-01. But the Magic’s struggles continued, leading to a 21-62 record and the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. That pick? Dwight Howard. However, T-Mac never got the chance to team up with him, as he was traded to Houston before the season started.
So how did Howard perform in a Magic jersey? Let’s just say he made that No. 1 pick count. Over eight seasons, he put up 18.4 points, 13 rebounds, and 2.16 blocks per game while shooting 57.7% from the field. He also dominated in the playoffs, averaging 19.9 points, 14.4 rebounds, and 2.77 blocks per game. He led Orlando to the NBA Finals in 2009 and back to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2010.
Feb 20, 2012; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center. The Magic defeated the Bucks 93-90. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Howard’s accolades with the Magic speak for themselves. Five straight All-NBA First Team selections, three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards, and six All-Star appearances. He’s the franchise’s all-time leader in points (11,435), rebounds (8,072), and blocks (1,344).
So as McGrady’s offensive brilliance stands out with a +4.3 Offensive Box Plus/Minus (BPM), Howard dominated defensively, posting a +5.4 defensive BPM. Now, imagine if these two ever played together in Orlando – unstoppable offense paired with elite defense. It’s a matchup that Magic fans can only dream about.
Stats in regular season
Game Played
MPG
PPG
RPG
APG
SPG
Dwight Howard
621
36.2
18.4
2.2
1.5
1.0
Tracy McGrady
295
39.4
28.1
7.0
5.2
1.53
So who truly left the bigger mark on Orlando?
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