Exclusive: Inside Tracy McGrady’s Growing Sports and Business Empire
Tracy McGrady made the extraordinary look effortless on the court, but his post-NBA second act is even more ambitious. Now an NBC/Peacock NBA analyst and expanding entrepreneur, the Naismith Hall of Famer spoke exclusively with The Root about transitioning to media, empowering the next generation of hoopers, and building his off-court empire his way.
McGrady, sportscaster-journalist Maria Taylor, and former NBA players Vince Carter and Carmelo Anthony have joined forces as the NBA on NBC team. While other networks boast strong teams, McGrady shared why the NBC squad stands out from the rest.
“I don’t necessarily like to compare, but I love the chemistry we have and what we bring to the game,” McGrady said. “When you assemble four people—three of whom, including Melo, have never really done TV, and Vince and I have only dabbled—you never truly know how that dynamic will come across on camera. You never know what could happen.”
“Take opening night, for example. NBC had been away from the NBA for over 20 years, and even when the audio started glitching and we had to pass a single mic back and forth, we still crushed it,” he added. “We wanted everything to be perfect, and despite the chaos, we made great TV. I love our team.”
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In what is shaping up to be another exciting NBA season, McGrady’s attention is locked on the re-energized Eastern Conference. Driven by offseason blockbusters and shifting contender dynamics, T-Mac says the East is one of the top storylines he’ll be watching, along with his “dark horse” squad.
“I’m very intrigued with the Eastern Conference. I’m gonna say to you that I think there’s gonna be like five to six teams in the Eastern Conference winning like 50 games. And I think from one to eight, anybody can lose in the playoffs,” McGrady explained. “That’s how deep I think the Eastern Conference is.”
“I think Indiana will be very strong in the East. Also, I think Miami’s going to be good with the addition of Giannis, Klay Thompson, and Tim Hardaway Jr. down there. They’re going to be top five defensively with Giannis and Bam,” he continued. “But my dark horse in the Eastern Conference is the Washington Wizards. Trae Young and Anthony Davis will be highly motivated this year.”
When he’s not analyzing NBA games, McGrady is building an expansive business portfolio. From reviving the iconic ABCD Camp—a legendary youth basketball showcase for elite high school prospects—to spearheading the Ones Basketball League and co-hosting his Cousins podcast with Vince Carter, the Hall of Famer continues to shape the game on his own terms.
Recently, McGrady signed a two-year strategic partnership with NBC Sports that includes his 2026–27 NBA analyst role on NBC and Peacock, Peacock distribution of his Ones Basketball League, live tapings for Season 2 of his Cousins podcast, and support for ABCD Camp.
“I’m a visionary and a creative thinker. When I set my mind to something, I exhaust every single avenue to make it happen. I saw the entire vision of what I was building—from ABCD Camp to the Ones Basketball League to my venture with Cousins—well before any of it manifested,” McGrady said. “
“NBC was the cherry on top. As soon as I heard NBC Sports was bringing NBA coverage back, I knew I had to be on that network. I started mapping it out: getting on NBC, leveraging Peacock for OBL, and running live events for Cousins. My mind was already five steps ahead. Now, here we are in talks for a broader media partnership with them,” he shared. “Big things are happening.”
Media deals and youth development were just stepping stones for McGrady—his ultimate goal was always franchise ownership. That decades-long dream was realized in 2024 when he secured a minority stake in the Buffalo Bills. McGrady broke down how he turned that opportunity into a reality.
“The Bills deal came about because I’ve always wanted to be in ownership,” he said. “When I first came into the league, I told my agent I wanted to own a Major League Baseball team because baseball was actually my favorite sport.”
Following his playing career, McGrady continued pursuing franchise ownership. When talks for a minority stake in the Atlanta Hawks fell through, a contact pitched him to the Buffalo Bills. Recognizing the team’s strong regional connection to his Toronto roots, McGrady jumped at the opportunity alongside Vince Carter.
“I called Vince and asked, ‘Are you interested in becoming an NFL owner? What about the Buffalo Bills?’ He immediately said, ‘Hell yeah!’ We had a few discussions, got our strategy lined up, and ended up meeting with Bills owner Terry Pegula, who signed us on the spot,” McGrady recalled. “It just goes to show why you should treat people right throughout your career and never burn bridges.”
As he continues to make big business moves, McGrady’s passion for the NBA hasn’t faded since he entered the league straight out of Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, North Carolina, in 1997. When asked about the best players to ever make that jump to the league from high school, his ranking didn’t disappoint.
“I’m going with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kevin Garnett,” he responded. “Then myself and Dwight Howard. That’s a crazy squad!”
