http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/sportstoryS0109MAGICNOTES.htm
ORLANDO -- Johnny Davis was the coach who worked the closest with Tracy
McGrady during his four seasons in Orlando, helping transform him from a
player filled with enormous potential to one of the NBA's elite stars.
So, for Davis to hear now that McGrady is admitting that he "slacked off"
last season when the Magic slumped to a disastrous 21-61 record, the
Orlando
head coach is personally hurt by those statements.
"For someone to say they didn't give full effort, that's really
disappointing," said Davis, who often worked personally with McGrady after
practice sessions. "Saying you didn't play well is one thing. But not
giving
effort is inexcusable."
McGrady admitted to Sports Illustrated that he didn't always play with
maximum effort last season and that he chased the scoring title only to
protect his image around the league. McGrady was traded to Houston in June
in a seven-player blockbuster deal.
"I like Tracy and wish him well in Houston because underneath everything
he's a good kid," Davis said. "But he shouldn't even think that way (about
the scoring title). It's foreign to everything that you're supposed to
think
about.
"When he says that sort of thing there's no amount of money or anything
that
can ever repair your character again. What he is basically saying is, 'I
don't care.' I think highly of Tracy, but it's just sad to hear those
types
of comments."
Asked if he had read the article in which McGrady said he didn't always
play
hard, Magic general manger John Weisbrod cracked, "This just in, huh?"
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