10 Greatest NBA Players Straight Outta High School
5. Tracy McGrady
Truth in Numbers: 19.6 PTS / 5.6 REB / 4.4 AST / 22.1 PER / 7x All-Star / 7x All-NBA / '00-'01 MIP
-Hall of Fame Class of 2017-
Turning down the opportunity to play at the University of Kentucky, Tracy McGrady was drafted 9th overall in 1997 by the Toronto Raptors. This was after a senior year that saw him labeled the #1 player in the nation by USA Today. He was joining a relatively new franchise with a young core consisting of the previous year's #2 overall pick Marcus Camby, 1995's ROY Damon Stoudemire, and (after a trade) fellow '97 draft classmate Chauncey Billups. Even with the addition of his cousin, Vince Carter, McGrady's time in Toronto was not successful.
In 2000, he was traded to Orlando where he was able to truly unlock his talent. Immediately becoming the star player for the Magic, T-Mac won the 2000-2001 "Most Improved Player" award. Over the next 4 seasons, he averaged over 25 points per game - including leading the league in scoring in '03 & '04. Despite his scoring title, the 2004 season was a disappointing one with Orlando falling to worst in the east. He was traded to the Rockets the following season, teaming up with Yao Ming and the Magic would draft Dwight Howard with the #1 pick in the lottery.
Between his time in Orlando and Houston, McGrady was named to 7 consecutive All-Star and All-NBA teams. However injuries started mounting and by 2008, he was a shell of himself and now a journeyman playing for New York, Detroit, Atlanta and China. He'd have one last opportunity in the 2013 playoffs with the San Antonio Spurs. It was the only time McGrady ever played past the 1st round in his 15 year career.