Like Jordan: Ex-NBA Star McGrady Keen On Pro- Baseball career

  FOLLOWING in the footsteps of legend Michael Jordan, retired NBA star Tracy McGrady is chasing a dream of playing professional baseball.

The seven-time All-Star has been invited to train as a pitcher with the Sugar Land Skeeters in Texas, giving him a chance to earn a spot on the independent Atlantic League team.

*Jordan

And what an intimidating presence he is on the mound. The giant right-hander is 2.03m tall (6ft 8in) and weighs in at 102kg.

“We’re intrigued by the progress Tracy has made thus far and really commend him for putting in the work,” Skeeters manager Gary Gaetti said.

McGrady, 34, played baseball from age five until his senior year in high school, when he transferred to a school without a baseball program.

Jordan took a n 18-month hiatus from basketball when he was at the top of his game to pursue a baseball career, saying the murder of his father had inspired his decision.

Jordan’s father had always envisioned his son as a Major League Baseball player, but the reality never eventuated as the basketball great did not graduate out of the minor leagues.

McGrady spent the majority of his 15-year NBA career with the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets, and was the league’s scoring champion in 2003 and 2004.