Former NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady joins Chinese team
Tracy McGrady celebrates after scoring against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. (Feb. 20, 2010) Credit: Ed Betz
BEIJING -- Seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady says he is headed for China to play for the Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles in the Chinese Basketball Association.
The 33-year-old McGrady will be the highest-profile player in the CBA. Because he played with Chinese basketball star Yao Ming during their days with the Houston Rockets, he is well known in China and his contract has been the top news in China's major sports news sites.
A woman who answered the phone Wednesday at the basketball club said she had no information. McGrady's announcement on his website Tuesday did not give terms for the one-year contract. Chinese media reports say the contract is worth at least $1 million.
McGrady said he is excited to play for the Eagles in eastern China and that "it will be an honor" to play for the Chinese people.
He played for the Atlanta Hawks last season, but failed to secure an NBA contract for the upcoming season and was considering retirement when he was approached by the management of Qingdao. McGrady is the latest NBA player to seek a new chapter in China. Stephon Marbury led the Beijing Ducks to the CBA championship in the 2011-2012 season.
"There are times in life that a new road presents itself and it appears this time has come for me now," McGrady wrote on his Website.
Qingdao ranked the eighth in the 17-team CBA in the last season.
