Tracy McGrady Expands NBC Deal Across Basketball Ventures

Former NBA star Tracy McGrady is broadening his sports business interests through a two-year partnership with NBC Sports that connects his television work with basketball competitions, podcasting, and youth basketball programming. The agreement includes selected Ones Basketball League games on Peacock, potential live recordings of his Cousins podcast, and possible content featuring the ABCD Basketball Camp.

McGrady, 47, begins his second season as an analyst on NBC's NBA Showtime studio program on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. According to an interview with The Athletic, published by The New York Times, the arrangement provides a platform for expanding projects he has developed beyond his broadcasting career.

The Ones Basketball League, which McGrady founded in 2022, features one-on-one basketball competition. Streaming selected games through Peacock will bring the league into NBC's distribution network, while the broader agreement creates opportunities to connect McGrady's other basketball ventures with the broadcaster.

McGrady described the partnership as the result of a long-term ambition to bring his business ideas together through a major media platform.

"It's crazy, but I visualized this," McGrady said. "I saw it, and it was just about, 'OK, what steps do I need to take for this to happen?'"

The agreement also includes potential live recordings of Cousins, the podcast McGrady co-hosts with fellow former NBA player Vince Carter. The podcast's second season is scheduled to begin Wednesday, October 21, 2026, while NBC is exploring programming associated with the ABCD Basketball Camp, a prominent high school basketball showcase that returned in July after a 20-year hiatus.

McGrady acquired a controlling stake in the camp, adding another property to his growing portfolio. He and Carter also purchased minority stakes in the NFL's Buffalo Bills in 2024, giving McGrady exposure to the business operations of a major professional sports franchise.

The media agreement followed the NBA's completion of an 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal in July 2024 involving ESPN and ABC, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video. McGrady subsequently directed his management team to pursue a relationship with NBC as the network prepared to return to NBA coverage.

His initial NBC broadcasting agreement lasted one year, allowing him to evaluate the position before committing to a longer arrangement.

"I don't want to get caught up into something that I can't get out of if I don't like it," McGrady said.

He identified the network's distribution capabilities as a central factor in the decision to expand the relationship beyond television appearances.

"It's the distribution and the platform itself," McGrady said.

The partnership gives McGrady an opportunity to align his basketball league and other projects with NBC's media reach.

"So I saw if I get on NBC, and then I can start lining all my other properties up, it's just a no-brainer. So here we are, man," McGrady said.

McGrady's broader business ambitions also reflect his interest in professional team ownership. Although he once aspired to own a Major League Baseball franchise, his investment in the Buffalo Bills became his entry into ownership at the major professional sports level.

He said his approach to business involves developing ideas and pursuing opportunities, drawing on experiences beyond his former playing career.

"I just never think that I can't do anything," McGrady said. "I'm always creating ideas in my mind and just throwing stuff at the wall and seeing if it sticks. And a lot of things have stuck for me, and that's why we're building right now."

During his peak years from 2000 to 2007, McGrady averaged 26.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, according to career statistics cited in The Athletic's report. He retired from the NBA at 34 after earning $163 million in playing salary before endorsements and later worked as an analyst for ESPN before joining NBC.

McGrady also acknowledged the substantial growth in NBA player salaries since his playing days, pointing to the financial opportunities available to current stars.

"Yeah, I'm jealous that some of these guys are making $50 and $60 million," McGrady said. "They landed with perfect timing, making this type of money."

His immediate priorities include developing NBC's studio coverage while expanding the Ones Basketball League, producing Cousins with Carter, and building programming opportunities around the ABCD Basketball Camp.