How good was Tracy McGrady actually? (vid)

[90sgoat]

I think this video does a good job of showing how good Tracy McGrady was and how his personality and bad luck left him as a footnote in NBA history, when imo, he could easily have been considered as good, or even better, than someone like Durant.

When looking at this short doc, it seems like his personality got in the way, couldn't co-exist with Vince in cold Toronto. Didn't have the patience to wait for a draft pick that turned into Dwight Howard.

That said, McGrady was for real and youngins today probably underrate him. He was Lebron before Lebron. The original big ball handling wing. Could shoot, drive and pass.

There was a time, a short time, when people on forums would discuss Kobe vs McGrady vs Lebron in that order.

[Carbine]

I'll take Kobe's word on this one. Best player he ever played against.

[90sgoat]

I'll take Kobe's word on this one. Best player he ever played against.

Yes it say so in the video.

Kobe played against them all so he'd know.

McGrady was definitely more skilled than Lebron. Had the 3 point shot, including the dribble up, no pass Harden step back. McGrady paved the way.

Lebron was a better passer and defender, but McGrady was better at everything else on offense.

[SouBeachTalents]

I've said it before, but I don't know if any superstar in history had worse teammate luck than T-Mac did. He played with legitimately the worst supporting cast ever in Orlando (if someone could name a worse one I'd like to hear it) Then when he gets to Houston he & Yao are never able to stay healthy, with Yao missing 92 games (including playoffs) over the final 3 seasons they played together.

The worst part is, he'll forever live with that first round stigma despite him consistently producing at a superstar clip; from 2001-08 he averaged 30/7/7 (albeit on 52%TS) in the playoffs. So contrary to his reputation, he was not an Embiid or Harden playoff underachiever.

Despite him winning 2 scoring titles, making All-NBA 7x and finishing top 10 in MVP voting 6 times, he didn't even make the 75th anniversary team, the biggest snub imo besides Dwight.

[90sgoat]

Despite him winning 2 scoring titles, making All-NBA 7x and finishing top 10 in MVP voting 6 times, he didn't even make the 75th anniversary team, the biggest snub imo besides Dwight.

Yeah, it's a travesty how little his peers and media have wanted to keep his memory. Suggests he wasn't well liked.

He definitely was a huge talent and played a lot of his career in a way more difficult era for wings.

I'll take McGrady over Harden, Durant etc, but most people would think that was cray.

[90sgoat]

Despite him winning 2 scoring titles, making All-NBA 7x and finishing top 10 in MVP voting 6 times, he didn't even make the 75th anniversary team, the biggest snub imo besides Dwight.

Yeah, it's a travesty how little his peers and media have wanted to keep his memory. Suggests he wasn't well liked.

He definitely was a huge talent and played a lot of his career in a way more difficult era for wings.

I'll take McGrady over Harden, Durant etc, but most people would think that was cray.

[Phoenix]

That said, McGrady was for real and youngins today probably underrate him. He was Lebron before Lebron. The original big ball handling wing. Could shoot, drive and pass.

I would say Grant Hill was the first 'Lebron before Lebron' moreso than Tmac. Tmac's scoring 'bag' at his best exceeded Lebron's and Grant's, and he was more of a shooter than both( of course Lebrons shooting improved in his later years). He also had a much smoother looking game than Lebron( and compared to like 95% of any player ever).

I agree with SBT on his luck. Played with absolute dogshit in Orlando, then his health took a nosedive in Houston coupled with Yao never staying healthy( that duo as far as potential should have been the best wing-big man combo since Shaq/Kobe but it just never panned out). He was actually already having back issues in 2003, the season everyone remembers. Imagine if he were totally healthy. He was a legit opponent for Kobe but his body just never geld up( and he wasn't as obsessed competitively as Mamba was).

[ShawkFactory]

Favorite player ever. But he’s not without some faults.

Of course he was incredibly unlucky but he also wasn’t the type of personality to go out and really make his own luck. He tended to just let things come to him on the court and he wasn’t really a leader.

However, the lack of patience given his situation was completely fair. He was very tight with Kobe and was ultimately always compared to him and I think he was really gunning to be in that type of position and couldn’t wait. As all of us would be probably.

[pandiani17]

Favorite player ever. But he’s not without some faults.

Of course he was incredibly unlucky but he also wasn’t the type of personality to go out and really make his own luck. He tended to just let things come to him on the court and he wasn’t really a leader.

However, the lack of patience given his situation was completely fair. He was very tight with Kobe and was ultimately always compared to him and I think he was really gunning to be in that type of position and couldn’t wait. As all of us would be probably.

This. In Orlando he even had the worst record in the league, when he was talent-wise maybe among the two best players in the league (with Kobe). Another type of player never would let that happen to him.

[RRR3]

I've said it before, but I don't know if any superstar in history had worse teammate luck than T-Mac did. He played with legitimately the worst supporting cast ever in Orlando (if someone could name a worse one I'd like to hear it) Then when he gets to Houston he & Yao are never able to stay healthy, with Yao missing 92 games (including playoffs) over the final 3 seasons they played together.

The worst part is, he'll forever live with that first round stigma despite him consistently producing at a superstar clip; from 2001-08 he averaged 30/7/7 (albeit on 52%TS) in the playoffs. So contrary to his reputation, he was not an Embiid or Harden playoff underachiever.

Despite him winning 2 scoring titles, making All-NBA 7x and finishing top 10 in MVP voting 6 times, he didn't even make the 75th anniversary team, the biggest snub imo besides Dwight.

52%TS in the playoffs for that era isn't really bad, especially on his volume. And yes, dude had the worst luck ever.

[Indian guy]

He's overly romanticized because of that 1 outlier season he had in 2002-2003. Not that he wasn't good, just nowhere near as good people think he was.

[ShawkFactory]

He's overly romanticized because of that 1 outlier season he had in 2002-2003. Not that he wasn't good, just nowhere near as good people think he was.

He started having the back issues the next year. He was 24 in 2003 and was clearly reaching or at his peak of what he was capable of. There’s a reason he was romanticized because he was an absolute dawg and a nightmare to guard. Even before that.

[Indian guy]

He started having the back issues the next year. He was 24 in 2003 and was clearly reaching or at his peak of what he was capable of. There’s a reason he was romanticized because he was an absolute dawg and a nightmare to guard. Even before that.

None of his other seasons come anywhere close to 2003 statistically though. He clearly overachieved that year.

[StrongLurk]

He was a true superstar at his peak.

Someone like Tatum has still not reached T-Mac's peak.

[RRR3]

None of his other seasons come anywhere close to 2003 statistically though. He clearly overachieved that year.

He didn't overachieve, he literally had scoliosis and was a ticking time bomb from the moment he was drafted. Do your research before spewing bullshit.