Tracy McGrady adidas TMAC Guide

TMAC 1

TMAC 1 was built for a player as dynamic and athletic as McGrady. The all-star swingman could score anywhere on the court. He played above the rim and with elite speed.

The shoe was built to support his needs. The shoe featured Adiprene+ cushioning. This allowed for soft landings. TMAC spent a lot of time in the air.

The 1 has a synthetic upper and the torsion system provides cushion and stability. The legendary shoe has been released in multiple colorways over the years. The TMAC 1 was released in 2002. McGrady was playing for the Orlando Magic at this time.

TMAC 2

After the success of the TMAC 1, the TMAC 2 seemed to be inevitable. McGrady continued to rise in the league as an elite player. The adidas TMAC 1 clicked with his growing fanbase. The TMAC 2, in terms of style and construction, was consistent with the TMAC 1.

LeBron James, while in high school, wore the TMAC 2 on the court. This shows the cultural significance of TMAC and his signature line in the early 2000s.

The TMAC 2 was first released in 2002. But it has been brought back as a retro release many times over the past two decades. adidas has invested in updating the tech of the 2 with new releases.

TMAC 3

The first 3 TMAC shoes did a good job of keeping the models similar in aesthetic. The McGrady and adidas collabs had a futuristic and sleek design to them. A look that fits perfectly with McGrady and his modern game and skillset.

The TMAC 3 was built to support the needs of a versatile player like TMAC. In recent years, the TMAC 3 has been brought back with modern additions to make it more modern in terms of tech.

McGrady was continuing his domination on the basketball court when the 3 launched. TMAC would wear the shoes during his final season with the Orlando Magic.

TMAC 4

The TMAC 4 was on the feet of Tracy McGrady when he made a major career change. In 2004, McGrady was traded to the Houston Rockets.

His time as a member of the Orlando Magic came to an end. It was a new era for TMAC. While the TMAC 1-3 had a very similar look and construction, the TMAC 4 would try something completely new.

The TMAC 4 was a laceless hoop shoe. It featured the HUG lockdown system tech.

HUG was a laceless compression-closure system. You would flip a lever, and your foot would lock into place. This gave the wearer a zone of total comfort.

The TMAC 4 came in different versions. There was a 4.5, which was pretty much the same as the 4.

TMAC 5

When the TMAC 5 launched, injuries were beginning to have a toll on McGrady’s career. The TMAC 5 featured an adidas Torsion system. The TMAC 5 has adiPRENE+, a midfoot strap, a thick heel counter and great traction. The 5, like the 4, featured a unique design.

The TMAC 5 might have been the last TMAC shoe released when McGrady was at the top of his game. His career would start being taken down by his string of injuries that would keep him off the court. Tracy McGrady is one of the all-time great “What If” players. His full potential was never able to show.

TMAC 6

The adidas TMAC 6 is the last signature sneaker released in the TMAC series. It was the end of an era. Due to injuries, TMAC’s luster as a player and pitchman was declining.

The TMAC 6 was once again pushing the boundaries when it came to tech. The tech was driven by data for each individual wearer/player and their unique playing style.

The pods in each shoe provided different levels of cushioning and control for each athlete. The soles were divided into two parts.

One half had regular cushioning for comfort and support. This helped both feet when jumping. The inner part of the shoe consisted of independent pods, held together with a TPU for stability.

There was also a low top version of the TMAC 6 released.

- Adam C. Better