Even after his Hall of Fame-worthy career in the NBA, Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce has continued to attract attention from the public. One such moment was when New York Giants rookie Tyrone Tracy was dubbed as the former basketball star for a good reason during training camp.
Tracy attended Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis, where he excelled as a dual-threat player, rushing for over 1,400 yards and 13 touchdowns while also catching 54 passes for over 1,100 yards and 16 touchdowns in his senior season. He was rated as a three-star recruit and committed to play college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
At Iowa, Tracy made an immediate impact, catching 36 passes for 589 yards and 3 touchdowns as a freshman in 2019. He followed that up with 14 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, and 15 catches for 106 yards and a score in 2021. After the 2021 season, he decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
Tracy transferred to Purdue, where he had a productive 2022 season, rushing for 138 yards and adding 198 receiving yards. Ahead of the 2023 season, He made the transition to running back and had an excellent year, rushing for 716 yards and 8 touchdowns on 113 carries, while also catching 19 passes for 132 yards. After the 2023 season, the running back declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.
At the NFL Combine, the former Purdue star measured in at 5’11” and 209 lbs, with impressive athletic testing numbers. He was selected by the New York Giants in the 5th round, 166th overall, in the 2024 NFL Draft.
New York Giants Rookie Tyrone Tracy Dubbed As Paul Pierce By Teammates During Camp
Tracy Jr. recently had a minor ankle injury scare at the New York Giants’ training camp, causing him to be carted off the field. However, the injury turned out to be nothing serious, and Tracy was able to return to team drills the following day, as seen in a tweet Dan Duggan posted on X.
“Tyrone Tracy said teammates have been calling him Paul Pierce after he got carted off last week with what turned out to be a minor ankle injury. Tracy said it was a very scary moment, but he felt way better later day. He feels good after returning to team drills today,” Duggan tweeted.
In the aftermath of the incident, Tracy revealed that his teammates have been jokingly calling him “Paul Pierce” in reference to the famous incident where the former NBA star was carried off the court in a wheelchair during the 2008 NBA Finals, only to return shortly after and continue playing.
Like Pierce, Tracy’s injury wasn’t as severe as it initially appeared, and he was able to quickly bounce back. The comparison to the iconic “wheelchair game” has become a lighthearted way for the Giants to poke fun at the situation, while also acknowledging the concern they felt when he was carted off the field.
While the true story behind Pierce’s wheelchair incident has been debated over the years, the enduring image of him returning to the game after seemingly being incapacitated has become a meme and a symbol of resilience in the sports world. For Tracy, the comparison is a testament to his own quick recovery and the camaraderie within the Giants’ locker room.
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