Tracy Mcgrady

Biography

Tracy McGrady (6 ft 8 in, 223 lbs), which plays either shooting guard or small forward, is one of the first players who went from high school (Mt. Zion Christian Academy) straight to the NBA without attending college (from the mid-90's high school exodus). He created national buzz after his performance in Adidas ABCD Camp, which is for the best high school players in the nation. He was drafted ninth in the first round of the 1997 draft by the Toronto Raptors. Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause had arranged a draft-day trade to send Scottie Pippen to Vancouver for the 4th overall pick, which he would have used to take McGrady. But, Krause was forced to call off the deal when Michael Jordan threatened to retire if it was made.

McGrady had a decent start with the Raptors, getting better numbers in all categories every year. The cousin and teammate of Vince Carter, McGrady often found himself in the shadow of his cousin, whose dunks made him an instant star. McGrady even assisted Carter in the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, an event in which McGrady also was competing in. While Carter was responsible for scoring, it was McGrady's job to be the team's defensive stopper and ball distributer. GM's recognized that McGrady was very versatile, and that he would demand great attention during the offseason. The young duo of Carter and McGrady led the Raptors to their first playoff berth in the 2000 Playoffs, but they were swept by the New York Knicks in 4 games.