Tracy McGrady was on the same level as Kobe Bryant during the 2000s. They were the two shooting guards leading the pack in the post-Jordan era by being the best perimeter scorers in the league.
Kobe maintained his elite level as the Los Angeles Lakers superstar, while T-Mac struggled to sustain his production due to his lack of consistency with his health. He went from averaging 32.1 points per game in the 2002/03 season to only scoring 5.3 points a night during his final season with the Atlanta Hawks, where he was not the man anymore.
"Not at all. It was tough when it first happened," McGrady said to HoopsHype in 2012. "But I just looked at the bigger picture of being able to be on a team still and be able to play the game that I love and that's the most important thing."
McGrady knew he had to step back
Since he was in his 30s and sustained multiple injuries throughout his career, T-Mac knew he could not stay at the same level he was at a few years earlier. He was still relatively young, but the speed and power were no longer there.
Going from a star to a role player was a hard pill to swallow, but McGrady knew to accept his fate and kept being a good presence in the locker room.
He retired after the 2013 Playoffs when he had an epic experience with the San Antonio Spurs . That was the first-ever time he got past the first round, even though most fans don't count that run, given that Tracy never played a minute for San Antonio in the postseason.
Related: "I almost expected Bird to show up at halftime" - When George Karl and World B. Free provoked Larry Bird in the 1985 Playoffs
T-Mac still has a rich legacy despite the bitter ending
When people mention T-Mac, almost everyone remembers him for his success early in his career. The legendary forward was still improving during his Houston Rockets days, but things did not work out due to injuries to him and Yao Ming.
Thankfully, people still look back at McGrady's career and focus on what he did during his prime. He was a seven-time All-Star, seven-time member of the All-NBA Team, two-time scoring champion, and the Most Improved Player in 2001.
The NBA community was sad when T-Mac retired, but that doesn't change the fact he is one of the brightest stars of the 2000s. In an era dominated by Kobe and LeBron, leaving a mark is a massive testament to his talent and greatness on the court.
Related: "It really took a toll on me" - T-Mac on how his Orlando stint might have shortened his career
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