Home>News Center>Sports
         
 

Houston Rockets, McGrady ink contract extension
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-11-02 11:01

The Houston Rockets, who acquired superstar guard Tracy McGrady four months ago, plan to hang on to him for a while.

The Rockets announced they have signed McGrady to a multi-year contract extension, a day before they open the National Basketball Association season against defending champions Detroit.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Tracy McGrady of Houston Rockets shoots a ball during a practice session, October 2004.[AFP/File]
Tracy McGrady of Houston Rockets shoots a ball during a practice session, October 2004.[AFP/file]
With the inside-outside tandem of All-Star center Yao Ming and McGrady, the Rockets expect to contend for a NBA title after losing in the first round of the playoffs last season to the Los Angeles Lakers.

"Tracy McGrady is one of the greatest players in the game today," Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said. "This marks another stone in the foundation to making the Rockets one of the premier organizations in all of sports. Yao is next, and we hope to sign him to a long-term contract as soon as allowable."

The Rockets acquired McGrady on June 29 in a seven-player deal that sent three-time All-Star Steve Francis to the Orlando Magic.

The NBA scoring champion each of the last two years, McGrady averaged 28.0 points along with 6.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.39 steals in 2003-04 when the Magic won a league-worst 21 games. He averaged a career-high 32.1 points per contest in 2002-03.

At 25, McGrady is the third-youngest player in NBA history to claim multiple scoring titles, behind only Wilt Chamberlain and Bob McAdoo.

McGrady boasts career averages of 21.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 487 games with Toronto and Orlando.

A four-time All-Star, McGrady became the second-youngest player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career points, trailing only Kobe Bryant.



 
  Today's Top News     Top Sports News
 

Bush, Kerry battle to wire in tight race

 

   
 

China's grain production ends a 5-year slide

 

   
 

Bush has one-point lead on Kerry -- poll

 

   
 

Village clash now under control, 7 dead

 

   
 

One American, 5 others kidnapped in Iraq

 

   
 

Rogge: Good Games ahead

 

   
  China, Australia sign Olympic agreement
   
  Houston Rockets, McGrady ink contract extension
   
  Greek Kenteris keen to clear his name
   
  76ers will try to trade injured Robinson
   
  10 die in Colombia soccer team bus crash
   
  Hamm, Foudy to play last game agaist Mexico
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Magic GM receives death threats after trading McGrady
   
McGrady-Francis swap leads NBA rumor mill
   
McGrady: I can get 70 points in game
Advertisement