Rockets Legend, Who Loved Baseball as a Child Like Michael Jordan, Admits He Was “Bullied” Into Playing Basketball

Michael Jordan is world-renowned for his extraordinary legacy in basketball. He spent 15 years in the NBA. His Chicago Bulls team of the 90s remains one of the best ever teams to feature in the NBA. After completing the three-peat twice, the team created history.

However, MJ admitted that he lacked motivation and retired after the first three-peat. During his retirement, he sadly had to go through his father’s death, and following the emotions, he decided to play baseball.

Michael Jordan said that he wanted to try his luck out in baseball, mainly because it was his father’s favorite sport. MJ himself also loved and played baseball during his childhood. In 1994, he made his debut for the Birmingham Barons. Although his baseball career was short-lived and he did return to the Chicago Bulls the following year, his baseball stats also showed promise.

READ MORE: Tracy McGrady was shaking when he first played against MJ.

Jordan was not the only NBA player who loved baseball growing up and played later in his life. Tracy McGrady was another such NBA legend who loved and played both sports.

Tracy McGrady did not plan to be a basketball player

Recently, on an episode of the Knuckleheads podcast, Tracy McGrady shared how his life would have looked completely different. The Hall of Famer admitted that he did not want to play basketball in his childhood and loved baseball more.

“When I was younger, man, I started baseball at five. That was my favorite sport. Even in my NBA career, it was still my favorite sport. I played football when I was 8 years old. I didn’t really start playing basketball till I was like 19 years old. But it was because I was bullied. I got older cousins, a neighborhood full of guys, and I used to just stand around and watch… because it wasn’t my sport,” Tracy shared.

ALSO READ: A commanding moment from Tracy McGrady.

“Cousins used to bully me. I got out there one time started playing. I was okay, but I really wasn’t that good, I used to get beat down and bullied. Having that opportunity to play against older guys and more experienced guys when I was coming up in my childhood really gave me the competitive nature that I had.”

Tracy explored his love for baseball as he played for Sugar Land Skeeters in 2014 after he retired from the NBA. The 35-year-old at the time, retired from baseball after throwing his first career strikeout.

The Rockets legend called his stint with the Skeeters a “tremendous ride” and said he planned to keep the ball he recorded his strikeout with as a souvenir.

“That is definitely going in the trophy case,” McGrady said. “I got a little emotional coming off the mound. It feels good to be celebrated again.”

It is funny how things sometimes work out. What is your favorite Tracy McGrady moment? Let us know in the comments!