Latest news with #McGrady
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady to join NBC as a studio analyst for 2025-26 NBA season
Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady is joining NBC as a studio analyst for the upcoming NBA season. In July 2024, the network regained the rights to the NBA in an 11-year deal that will present regular season and playoff games on NBC, Peacock, USA Network, Sky Sports and Telemundo. Since the deal was inked, NBC has assembled a star-studded cast of analysts, commentators and in-studio talent, with McGrady being the latest addition. On Tuesday, the network announced McGrady's employment. 'I'm humbled and grateful for the opportunity to join NBC Sports as the game returns to a network that helped shape so many iconic basketball memories,' McGrady said in a statement. 'Basketball has given me everything, and I've always just tried to give that same energy back. "I hope I can bring the same passion, insight, and love for the game that's driven me since I was a kid, to all who tune in to watch on NBC and Peacock. I couldn't be more excited to join this team alongside so many others I admire.' Among the names signed to NBC's NBA team are Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Carmelo Anthony and Maria Taylor in the studio. Reggie Miller, Grant Hill and Jamal Crawford will lead a team of analysts while Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle spearhead the play-by-play roster. According to NBC, McGrady will be working several nights a week throughout the playoffs and will often work alongside Anthony and Carter. McGrady and Carter are familiar with each other as second cousins and former teammates with the Toronto Raptors. 'Tracy has performed at the highest level both on and off the court and has already demonstrated his ability to deliver his unique perspective on air,' Executive Producer of NBC Sports, Sam Flood, said. 'Whether paired with Carmelo, Vince, or both, we're excited to see how this team of Hall of Famers comes together and breaks down the game.' McGrady played in the Association for 16 seasons before calling it a career in 2013. After Toronto, McGrady had stints in Orlando, Houston, New York, Detroit, Atlanta and San Antonio. He retired as a two-time scoring champion, seven-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA player. T-Mac was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. In 2016, McGrady became an NBA analyst for ESPN, appearing on SportsCenter, NBA Countdown, and The Jump. His broadcast resume also boasts experience with TNT, where he occasionally served as an analyst for Inside the NBA.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady to join NBC as a NBA studio analyst for 2025-26 season
Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady is joining NBC as a studio analyst for the upcoming NBA season. In July 2024, the network regained the rights to the NBA in an 11-year deal that will present regular season and playoff games on NBC, Peacock, USA Network, Sky Sports and Telemundo. Since the deal was inked, NBC has assembled a star-studded cast of analysts, commentators and in-studio talent, with McGrady being the latest addition. On Tuesday, the network announced McGrady's employment. 'I'm humbled and grateful for the opportunity to join NBC Sports as the game returns to a network that helped shape so many iconic basketball memories,' McGrady said in a statement. 'Basketball has given me everything, and I've always just tried to give that same energy back. "I hope I can bring the same passion, insight, and love for the game that's driven me since I was a kid, to all who tune in to watch on NBC and Peacock. I couldn't be more excited to join this team alongside so many others I admire.' Among the names signed to NBC's NBA team are Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Carmelo Anthony and Maria Taylor in the studio. Reggie Miller, Grant Hill and Jamal Crawford will lead a team of analysts while Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle spearhead the play-by-play roster. According to NBC, McGrady will be working several nights a week throughout the playoffs and will often work alongside Anthony and Carter. McGrady and Carter are familiar with each other as second cousins and former teammates with the Toronto Raptors. 'Tracy has performed at the highest level both on and off the court and has already demonstrated his ability to deliver his unique perspective on air,' Executive Producer of NBC Sports, Sam Flood, said. 'Whether paired with Carmelo, Vince, or both, we're excited to see how this team of Hall of Famers comes together and breaks down the game.' McGrady played in the Association for 16 seasons before calling it a career in 2013. After Toronto, McGrady had stints in Orlando, Houston, New York, Detroit, Atlanta and San Antonio. He retired as a two-time scoring champion, seven-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA player. T-Mac was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. In 2016, McGrady became an NBA analyst for ESPN, appearing on SportsCenter, NBA Countdown, and The Jump. His broadcast resume also boasts experience with TNT, where he occasionally served as an analyst for Inside the NBA.
New York Times
8 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Tracy McGrady joining NBC Sports as NBA studio analyst
NBC Sports continues to acquire Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers for its upcoming NBA coverage. The network announced Tuesday that it hired Tracy McGrady, the seven-time NBA All-Star and a member of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Class of 2017, as an NBA studio analyst for both NBC and Peacock. He joins fellow Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony and Vince Carter on the studio show alongside hosts Maria Taylor and Ahmed Fareed. Michael Jordan was also announced as a special contributor to NBC Sports' upcoming coverage. Advertisement The thought behind NBC's NBA studio hires, according to someone briefed on the coverage philosophy, is to have enough on-air talent for scale. The company has a significant amount of NBA inventory arriving this year, including three consecutive nights of studio programming starting next February. There will be no set lineup for the studio; NBC plans to mix and match. NBC's other on-air hires include Jamal Crawford, Reggie Miller and Grant Hill. Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle are the main play-by-play voices. McGrady has worked in broadcasting for ESPN (where he appeared on 'The Jump') and TNT Sports, where he occasionally appeared on 'Inside the NBA.' He played 16 seasons in the NBA, including with the Toronto Raptors (1997-2000), Orlando Magic (2000-2004) and Houston Rockets (2004-2010). The Athletic named him in 2021 as one of the NBA's 75 Greatest Players. 'Basketball has given me everything, and I've always just tried to give that same energy back,' McGrady said in a statement. 'I hope I can bring the same passion, insight and love for the game that's driven me since I was a kid, to all who tune in to watch on NBC and Peacock. I couldn't be more excited to join this team alongside so many others I admire.' In July 2024, the NBA signed an 11-year media rights deal with NBC/Peacock, ABC/ESPN and Amazon Prime Video beginning in the 2025-26 season. The NBC/Peacock coverage begins on Tuesday, Oct. 21, on Peacock. NBC and Peacock will air coverage on Tuesday nights beginning in October. Big picture: NBC Sports will air up to 100 regular-season NBA games, including sometimes four games a week for portions of the season. After its 'Sunday Night Football' coverage concludes, NBC Sports will launch 'Sunday Night Basketball' across NBC and Peacock, which has a shot to hit as a successful franchise play, given Sunday still represents the most watched night on linear television.
NBC Sports
8 hours ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
TRACY MCGRADY TO JOIN NBC SPORTS AS NBA STUDIO ANALYST BEGINNING THIS FALL
Hall of Famer and Seven-Time NBA All-Star Begins Studio Analyst Role This Fall when the NBA Returns to NBC and Debuts on Peacock 2025-26 NBA Season Begins Oct. 21 on NBC and Peacock STAMFORD, Conn. – July 29, 2025 – Tracy McGrady, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and a seven-time NBA All-Star who is widely considered one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, will join NBC Sports as a studio analyst when the NBA returns to NBC and debuts on Peacock this fall. McGrady played 16 seasons in the NBA, primarily with the Toronto Raptors (1997-2000), Orlando Magic (2000-2004), and Houston Rockets (2004-2010). His illustrious career saw him earn multiple awards and accomplishments, including his induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. McGrady was a seven-time NBA All-Star; a seven-time All-NBA selection, including First Team in 2002 and 2003; a two-time NBA scoring champion; the 2001 NBA Most Improved Player; and six top-10 finishes in NBA MVP voting. During his career, McGrady also spent time with the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, and San Antonio Spurs. McGrady has broadcasting experience as well, joining ESPN in 2016 as an NBA analyst. During his tenure with the network, he appeared on programs such as SportsCenter, NBA Countdown, and The Jump. He also spent time as an NBA analyst for TNT Sports, appearing on Inside the NBA. 'I'm humbled and grateful for the opportunity to join NBC Sports as the game returns to a network that helped shape so many iconic basketball memories,' said McGrady. 'Basketball has given me everything, and I've always just tried to give that same energy back. I hope I can bring the same passion, insight, and love for the game that's driven me since I was a kid, to all who tune in to watch on NBC and Peacock. I couldn't be more excited to join this team alongside so many others I admire.' When McGrady joins NBC Sports in October for the start of the 2025-26 NBA season, he will be in studio one or more nights per week through the playoffs, often working alongside Carmelo Anthony and Vince Carter, as well as hosts Maria Taylor and Ahmed Fareed. McGrady and Carter are cousins, and both started their NBA careers with the Raptors. 'Tracy has performed at the highest level both on and off the court and has already demonstrated his ability to deliver his unique perspective on air,' said Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports. 'Whether paired with Carmelo, Vince, or both, we're excited to see how this team of Hall of Famers comes together and breaks down the game.' During the prime of his career, McGrady was one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA. On December 9, 2004, while playing for the Rockets, he put on one of the most famous offensive displays of all time, scoring 13 points in the final 35 seconds of a game, including a last-second three-pointer, to clinch a comeback victory against the Spurs. The explosive sequence saw him hit four consecutive three-pointers, one of which was a four-point play. Additionally, McGrady's 2002-03 scoring average of 32.09 points per game was the second-highest average of the entire 2000's, second only to Kobe Bryant's 35.40 in 2005-06. The ninth overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, McGrady came to the NBA right after a decorated high school career split between Auburndale High School in Florida and Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, N.C. During his senior year, he was named Mr. Basketball USA, a McDonald's All-American, and USA Today's High School Basketball Player of the Year. Since retiring from the NBA, McGrady has served as an NBA analyst for ESPN and TNT Sports. He also had a brief professional baseball career in 2014, joining the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball as a pitcher, where he made the team's Opening Day roster and started in the All-Star Game. For more information on McGrady, click here. The NBA returns to NBC and debuts on Peacock on Tuesday, Oct. 21, when the 2025-26 season tips off. Throughout the course of the season, NBC Sports will present up to 100 regular season NBA games -- including four games a week for portions of the season -- plus the playoffs. NBC and Peacock will present coverage on Tuesday nights beginning in October. After Sunday Night Football coverage concludes in 2026, NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock. Peacock will also livestream national Monday night games starting Oct. 27. *** In July 2024, NBCUniversal and the NBA announced an 11-year agreement to present NBA and WNBA regular-season and playoff basketball games across numerous platforms beginning with the 2025-26 season. For more information on the agreement, click here. NBC Sports has already announced that Jamal Crawford, Reggie Miller, Grant Hill, Brad Daugherty, Derek Fisher, Robbie Hummel, Austin Rivers, and Brian Scalabrine will serve as game analysts; Carmelo Anthony and Vince Carter as studio analysts; Maria Taylor and Ahmed Fareed as studio hosts; and Mike Tirico, Noah Eagle, Terry Gannon and Michael Grady as play-by-play voices. Michael Jordan has been announced as a special contributor. Emmy Award-winning producer Frank DiGraci is NBC Sports' NBA coordinating producer. In a nod to its original era of NBA coverage from 1990-2002, NBC Sports is bringing back Roundball Rock, one of the most iconic and beloved theme songs in sports history, and will use an AI-generated voice of the late Jim Fagan, a longtime NBC Sports narrator whose voice was synonymous with its NBA coverage and promotion. ABOUT NBC SPORTS NBC Sports connects sports fans to the moments that matter most with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. As the sports division of NBCUniversal, NBC Sports produces, programs, and promotes premier content across numerous linear and digital platforms, including NBC and Peacock. NBC Sports possesses an unparalleled collection of media rights agreements, partnering and presenting many of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the NFL, NBA, WNBA, Big Ten Conference, Big East Conference, Notre Dame, NASCAR, PGA TOUR, USGA, PGA of America, The R&A, Churchill Downs, Premier League, and many more. It is renowned for making big events bigger and has produced some of the most-watched sporting events in U.S. media history, including Olympic Games, Super Bowls, and Sunday Night Football, primetime television's No. 1 show for 14 consecutive years. --NBC SPORTS--
Newsweek
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Service Dog Visits Aquarium, Dolphins' 'Special' Response Says It All
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A visit to the aquarium took a touching turn when Forest, a golden-retriever service dog, encountered the facility's dolphins. The dolphins' unusually strong and curious response to Forest, captured in a viral TikTok video by his owner Ashton McGrady, has left many wondering if they sensed his unique purpose. McGrady, 33, told Newsweek about the video, which has over received 2.5 million views, and what she believed drew the dolphins to Forest. "You won't believe how these dolphins reacted to my service dog," McGrady captioned the video. "I think the dolphins knew he was special." Photos from Ashton McGrady's TikTok video of dolphins at an aquarium reacting to her service dog. Photos from Ashton McGrady's TikTok video of dolphins at an aquarium reacting to her service dog. @radiantlygolden/TikTok McGrady provided insight into the incredible canine companion that captured the dolphins' attention. "Forest is my golden retriever service dog," she said. "He's task-trained to assist with my disabilities, including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), syringomyelia, and autism spectrum disorder." Forest performs a wide array of vital tasks, including "cardiac alert, deep pressure therapy, retrieving medication, closing doors or cabinets, removing clothing, meltdown response," and more. The interaction with the dolphins was a first for Forest. "This was the first time he'd ever interacted with marine animals and definitely the first time meeting dolphins," McGrady said, adding that it was "truly something special … It felt like an unusually strong connection—almost like they sensed Forest's purpose." Watching the moment unfold, McGrady was deeply moved by Forest's disposition. "I was completely in awe," she said. "Forest was so calm and curious, and the dolphins were clearly engaged … As someone who relies on Forest for so much, seeing him connect so instinctively with another species was cool. It felt like the dolphins could sense the gentleness in him, or maybe even his purpose. It was a reminder that empathy and connection can transcend species." In the comments section, one former aquarium employee weighed in on the exact phenomenon McGrady witnessed: "I used to work at an aquarium! Dolphins LOVESSSS dogs. They don't understand them. Then find them SOOOO interesting. Same things with strollers. They can feel them roll around with echolocation. It's beautiful," they wrote. McGrady said she hopes this viral moment helps educate the public about the vital role of service dogs. They aren't pets, she added, but "highly trained medical tools and life partners for disabled people." And while Forest is cute, his function in her life is essential to her well-being. "Service dogs do so much more than people realize," McGrady concluded. "[He is] essential to my safety and independence. These dogs perform complex tasks … their presence can truly be lifesaving."
