In an odd twist in the ongoing sneaker wars, it was reported that adidas’ new basketball pitchman Tracy “T-Mac” McGrady was grinning from ear-to ear after Michael Jordan handed him his shoes after McGrady’s Orlando Magic team beat Jordan’s Wizards in last Monday’s matchup in Orlando.

After the game Michael Jordan took off his gray and white Nike shoes and handed them to the Orlando Magic star with a message scribbled on the side.

McGrady has shown star power on and off the court, leading the league in points per game and cleaning up with his latest sneakers at retail as well. The 23-year-old star seems to be pulling away from Allen Iverson to challenge Jordan for the top spot in both venues.

T-Mac, the top selling basketball silhouette the last two weeks, have helped adidas increase its basketball category business by 46% the third quarter.

Adidas, after signing a lifetime deal with McGrady in May, isn’t the only company counting on this rising star. Foot Locker, as a result of its dispute with Nike, won’t be getting many Jordans anytime soon and will be counting on T-Mac’s to fill the void. Foot Locker has Tracy McGrady shops in over 400 Foot Locker and Champs stores throughout the U.S.

McGrady has certainly fanned the flames for adidas’ resurgence in the Basketball category. The young hoopster’s first shoe flew off the shelves last spring, prompting adidas to cut the cord with the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and his sluggish footwear sell-through.