{"id":547926,"date":"2026-01-20T01:44:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T01:44:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/547926\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T01:44:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T01:44:15","slug":"tracy-mcgrady-sees-locker-room-friction-amid-nys-slump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/547926\/","title":{"rendered":"Tracy McGrady sees locker room ‘friction’ amid NY’s slump"},"content":{"rendered":"

Coming off the high of their triumph in the NBA Cup, an achievement that roused hopes of a title run, the New York Knicks have suddenly hit a wall<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Knicks were embarrassed by the Dallas Mavericks, 114-97, at Madison Square Garden on Monday for their fourth straight loss. They fell to 25-18, including 2-9 in their last 11 games. Fans showered them with boos in the first half, as they trailed by as much as 30 points.<\/p>\n

At one point during the game, Jalen Brunson<\/a> was seen talking animatedly to his teammates on the bench.<\/p>\n

For NBA legend Tracy McGrady<\/a>, the Knicks might be suffering from internal issues<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are an established team that went to the Eastern Conference finals last year. To come back with all the motivation to try to make it to the finals because you have the same identity and roster, and you’re playing like a team that doesn’t know who you are. There’s some friction in this locker room that needs to be ironed out,\u201d said McGrady on NBA on NBC.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don’t know who, what, coach, player. Something has to be done because this can’t continue.\u201d<\/p>\n

Melo “JB trying to gather guys together\u2026<\/p>\n

McGrady “There’s friction locker room\u2026<\/p>\n

Melo “You can see it in huddle\u2026<\/p>\n

TM “If I don’t like you why am I playing hard\u2026<\/p>\n

Melo “I don’t think they’re gonna make a change\u2026figure it out\u2026no coaches locker room halftime\u2026on us players” pic.twitter.com\/T7pA2oyn2u<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Even though the Knicks were back in full force with the return of Brunson and Josh Hart from injuries<\/a>, they still failed to beat the Mavericks.\u00a0They only shot 40% from the field and conceded 32 fast break points. They never led in the contest.<\/p>\n

McGrady, who played briefly for the Knicks in 2010, noted that the team’s chemistry needs to be fixed to avoid compounding the supposed problems.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I don’t like you, why am I playing hard? Because I have a grudge, I’m holding something towards you or the coach or the system,\u201d added the Hall of Famer.<\/p>\n

The Knicks will face the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.<\/p>\n