Did Tracy McGrady Just Spoil A Brand New Addition to the All-Star Weekend?

Years after leaving behind a storied career, Tracy McGrady is set to take on the new role of studio analyst for NBA on NBC. It appears, however, that a slip of the tongue by McGrady could get him into some hot water with NBC executives.

In a recent appearance on the “Gil’s Arena” podcast, McGrady dropped an interesting sound bite regarding the 2026 All-Star weekend. Sounding like he couldn’t help himself, T-Mac dished out a particularly juicy detail regarding next year’s festivities.

“I had a conversation with NBC. Sorry, NBC, if I’m not supposed to tell this,” McGrady said on the podcast. “I think they’re going to have one-on-one at All-Star Weekend this year.”

If McGrady’s statement is accurate, the one-on-one tournament would become the latest addition to an annual event that also includes the three-point contest and the slam dunk competition. While the All-Star game itself has been panned because fans were expecting more intense action, the novel idea of a one-on-one tournament would at least generate more buzz for All-Star weekend itself.

Earlier this year, the startup league Unrivaled held a one-on-one tournament with a $200,000 prize in store for the champion. Unrivaled co-founder Napheesa Collier ended up being crowned as the tournament winner after she defeated Aaliyah Edwards in the best-of-three finals.

Should the NBA decide to adopt this new contest, the league can employ the same tactic of putting up a cash prize to get the participants’ competitive juices flowing. The fast pace of one-on-one action would also make for great viewing during a weekend that highlights spectacle above all.

NBA fans will now get to debate whether McGrady genuinely slipped up on Gil’s Arena or whether his sound bite was part of a plan to gauge interest in this new concept. Whatever the case may be, netizens are now buzzing about the possibilities that could unfold if the NBA were to stage a one-on-one tournament next year in Los Angeles.