There’s never a dull moment when NBA legends weigh in on basketball’s greatest debates, and Tracy McGrady has once again stoked the fire with his latest comments about LeBron James and the legendary triangle offense. On September 16, 2025, McGrady offered a fascinating what-if scenario: What if LeBron, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, had been introduced to Phil Jackson’s famed triangle offense early in his career? According to McGrady, such a pairing could have ended all discussions about who truly sits atop the GOAT throne.
Speaking on Gil’s Arena, McGrady didn’t mince words: “If Bron got introduced to the triangle at an early age, Bron would have expanded his game tremendously… He’s not as fast or uber athletic like he once was. But if we take Bron who he is now, with the athleticism, speed, and everything, agility, and put him in that triangle, learning that, I don’t think there’s any question who the greatest player would be.” It’s a bold claim, but one rooted in McGrady’s deep respect for both LeBron’s basketball IQ and the transformative power of the triangle system.
The triangle offense, popularized by Phil Jackson’s Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, is legendary for its reliance on spacing, constant motion, and creating opportunities for stars to thrive. It’s the system that unlocked Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant as dominant scorers, while also extending their careers by shifting the focus from sheer athleticism to skill and footwork. For LeBron James—who, at 40, is preparing for his 23rd NBA season alongside Luka Dončić in Los Angeles—the triangle might have been the perfect tool to adapt his game as his physical gifts evolved.
McGrady elaborated, “In a triangle, it grows, right? Now he becomes a complete player because you have to be the closer in the triangle. And it gives you the clearance and space to operate because of all the other s**t that’s going on. I think he would’ve learned the footwork, play with his back to the basket because that’s where he didn’t master.” It’s an intriguing point—LeBron has often faced criticism for making the “right play” in crunch time rather than forcing a shot. McGrady believes the triangle would have molded him into an even more lethal closer, balancing his elite passing with an assertive scorer’s mentality.
Of course, LeBron’s résumé is already the stuff of legend. A four-time NBA champion, four-time MVP, and the league’s all-time scoring leader, he’s spent the past eight years partnered with the Lakers, according to his agent Rich Paul, always with his eyes on another championship. Even as young stars like Luka Dončić rise and the Lakers juggle future-building with supporting LeBron’s title aspirations, the King remains laser-focused on adding one more ring before he calls it a career.
But McGrady’s musings aren’t just idle chatter. The debate over NBA greatness is as old as the league itself, and the triangle offense is a key chapter in that story. Phil Jackson’s system didn’t just help superstars— it demanded evolution. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant both became more well-rounded players, learning to operate with their backs to the basket and using footwork to create space as their athleticism waned. McGrady contends that LeBron, already one of the game’s most intelligent and adaptable players, would have flourished in such an environment.
“It grows your game,” McGrady insisted. “You have to be the closer, and you get the space to operate. That’s what LeBron missed—he never mastered the footwork or the back-to-the-basket game. In the triangle, he would have.” It’s a tantalizing thought for fans and analysts alike, especially as LeBron prepares for another campaign with the Lakers, still performing at a high level despite the relentless march of time.
Yet, as compelling as McGrady’s argument is, others are quick to point out that greatness is about more than just the system. Individual talent, adaptability, and the ability to rise to the occasion are all part of the equation. The GOAT debate, after all, often boils down to personal biases and the eras fans grew up watching. While McGrady’s perspective adds a new wrinkle, it’s unlikely to settle the argument once and for all.
Meanwhile, the Lakers’ present-day reality is a microcosm of the league’s shifting dynamics. With LeBron nearing the end of his career and Dončić representing the future, Los Angeles must balance immediate championship hopes with long-term planning. According to Rich Paul, “LeBron and the Lakers have partnered for eight years, focusing on future success.” That partnership, and the team’s ability to support LeBron’s quest for a final title, will play a crucial role in shaping his legacy.
It’s not the only hypothetical McGrady has weighed in on recently. Just a day before his LeBron comments, McGrady doubled down on his belief that he could have won NBA championships playing alongside Shaquille O’Neal if he’d replaced Kobe Bryant on the early 2000s Lakers. “When we talking basketball, we talking hypotheticals all the f—–ing time, and it was around the ring culture of what we was talking about… When I look at who I was as a player at this time, and I’m looking at Shaq, the most dominant basketball player, and I’m seeing myself playing with a cat like Shaq, based off of the conversation around ring culture, I would have won a ring with the big fella,” McGrady said on The Arena.
Shaquille O’Neal himself agreed with the notion, acknowledging that he could have won championships with McGrady. That’s high praise, especially considering O’Neal’s three consecutive titles with Kobe Bryant. McGrady, who averaged 25 or more points for five straight seasons during his prime with the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets, never made it out of the first round in his own career. Still, his athleticism and scoring prowess made him one of the few players who could go toe-to-toe with Bryant.
So, what does all this mean for LeBron’s legacy? As he enters what could be his final seasons, the Lakers’ strategy and his ability to adapt will be under the microscope. Whether or not he adds another championship, his impact on the game is undeniable. The triangle offense might have added another dimension to his game, but even without it, LeBron James will be remembered as one of the all-time greats—no asterisks required.
As the NBA gears up for another season, the debates will rage on. What if LeBron had learned the triangle? What if McGrady had teamed up with Shaq? In the end, these hypotheticals only add to the rich tapestry of basketball history, reminding fans why the game—and its legends—continue to captivate generation after generation.
