Read how NBA stars compare Paul George and Tracy McGrady, from playoff success to scoring. See what they said about both players’ careers.
Paul George and Tracy McGrady are two former NBA stars who are often compared. Both were great scorers and had many strong seasons. A recent talk on Gil’s Arena looked at which player had the better career. The panel said George may have had the better career because of his playoff runs and time on the court. However, they also said McGrady may have had the better peak.
Paul George Gets the Edge
The discussion came up on Gil’s Arena while the panel was talking about George and McGrady. One of the speakers said, “Low-key, Paul George probably had a better career than T-Mac.” The panel made it clear that the comment was not meant to disrespect McGrady. They said George had better playoff results and stayed healthy for more of his career. George had some of his best playoff moments with the Indiana Pacers. He helped the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014. The Pacers faced LeBron James and the Miami Heat in both years.
George played a key role in those series. In the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals, he averaged 24.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists against Miami. He also scored 37 points in Game 5. Those playoff runs became a big part of the debate. The panel also gave McGrady plenty of credit. McGrady was one of the NBA’s best scorers during his time with the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets. He won the scoring title twice. In the 2002-03 season, he averaged 32.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.
Jeff Teague says Tracy McGrady was the Paul George of his generation pic.twitter.com/Z9j2fKmU16
— NBA Hoops (@Thechat101) September 17, 2026
McGrady’s playoff record, however, was one of the biggest issues raised in the discussion. He never made it past the first round of the playoffs. One of his biggest chances came in 2003 when the Magic took a 3-1 lead over the Detroit Pistons. Orlando then lost three straight games and the series.
McGrady also dealt with major injury problems during his career. The panel pushed back against people who say he did not work hard enough. They pointed to the injuries that affected his career, including microfracture surgery. The panel still praised McGrady’s talent and said his best level may have been higher than George’s. At the same time, they said George’s playoff success matters when looking at their full careers. The debate shows why George and McGrady remain difficult players to compare. McGrady had an incredible scoring peak, while George had deeper playoff runs during his career.
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