Imagine becoming rich and famous overnight as an 18-year-old high school basketball phenom. It sounds amazing, but it came with a colossal learning curve. Orlando Magic legend Tracy McGrady learned this the hard while living with Kobe Bryant as a young player for the Toronto Raptors. <\/p>\n
McGrady had no problem admitting how lost he felt as a young man earning a lot of money doing what he loves. “In my earlier days, I never felt like I had it under control, ever,” the 7-time All-Star said on the Carmelo Anthony podcast. <\/p>\n
Luckily for McGrady, he had a very good NBA friend who was just a year older that also got drafted into the NBA as a high school phenom. <\/p>\n
“I could pick up the phone and call Kobe, he’s someone that I leaned on religiously at that time,” McGrady said. <\/p>\n
The relationship between the two teenagers blossomed beyond a phone call or two. The pair spent time together as children in Paris before ever stepping into the NBA. A decade later, McGrady moved into Kobe Bryant’s home. The two-time scoring champ said Bryant helped in multiple ways.<\/p>\n
“That ain’t just no friendship. It was a brotherhood. I call his mom my auntie.”<\/p>\n
T-Mac sheds light on his REAL relationship with Kobe Bryant \ud83d\udcaf pic.twitter.com\/GQDqjGQ9gh<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) July 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n “In that span of my rookie year ’til when I got to Orlando like that growth as a person and as a player, I’ve never seen anything like it,” McGrady said. When asked what specifically he talked about often with the Lakers legend he said, “life, everything, I was living with him…it really got me through a lot and I’m not even talking about basketball, having money and having to deal with family and maneuvering through all of that.”<\/p>\n It’s hard to believe that an eventual Hall of Fame guard didn’t properly work out before arriving to the NBA. Bryant helped McGrady on the court as well. “This is all a blank canvas for me and I’m trying to figure it out…how you approach games, how you workout, I didn’t have any of this [knowledge], I didn’t workout until I got to the pros!”<\/p>\n MORE ORLANDO MAGIC<\/a> NEWS<\/p>\n Should Orlando Magic Consider Hypothetical Trade With Phoenix Suns?<\/a><\/p>\n Two-Time NBA Champ Believes Desmond Bane Is Missing Piece For Magic<\/a><\/p>\n Orlando Magic Make Paolo Banchero Decision Sooner Than Later<\/a><\/p>\n