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]

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.

Close

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