Football
Marc J. Spears 21y

McGrady lets his game do the talking

While Tracy McGrady has reached his projections of being atop the NBA world, you can't get him to say that now.

Just two seasons ago, McGrady arrived as a superstar on the NBA scene in his fifth season by earning honors as the Most Improved Player and All-NBA second team. But while those honors were stellar, McGrady didn't have problems expressing disappointment during the summer of 2001 that he should have been a first-team member and was among the league's greats.

Now, McGrady is the NBA's leading scorer at 30 points per game and is everything he said he was. A strong argument can be made that the versatile 6-foot-8, 210-pounder is the world's greatest basketball player today. But there isn't any "I told you so" talk from the current front-runner for NBA Most Valuable Player now as he is letting his game talk for him.

"To be honest with you, I really don't care," said McGrady, 23, when asked where he ranked among the NBA's top players. "That's really not my job to place myself. I've learned from (the past). When I was into that, I would put myself above everybody. But I don't even care about that, man.

"I've realized in this game that all you should care about is winning. I know who I am, but I'm not the one to say I'm first."

McGrady has traveled a rocky road to become an NBA star.

After going straight from Mt. Zion Academy to the NBA in 1997, McGrady received strong criticism. His work ethic and game were questioned and the Toronto Raptors hired someone to spend time with the then-teenager who was having problems adjusting to life off the court, too. Then-Raptors coach Darrell Walker said McGrady would be out of the league in just a couple of seasons. Also, McGrady was swallowed up in the big shadow of cousin and Raptors star Vince Carter.

"I took all the criticism and just used it as motivation," McGrady said. "They expect you to come in and do a lot. It's tough for a young guy in this league to come in and make an impact right away."

During a hot 2000 NBA first-round playoff series between the New York Knicks and the Raptors, all the focus was on the next so-called Michael Jordan in Carter. But while Carter struggled in the series as Toronto faltered, his cousin showed All-Star potential by averaging 16.7 points.

The Raptors made the worst move in franchise history by not coercing McGrady to stay. Sure, the Magic took a major chance giving the Orlando-area native a $100 million contract. But that gamble was well worth it as McGrady is even bigger than Mickey Mouse in Orlando.

"We're still finding out, that's the best part of it all," said Orlando general manager John Gabriel when asked how good McGrady can be. "He continues to grow as a person and a player."

Initially, McGrady was too respectful of Grant Hill to act like the team's leader. Now he is quite comfortable running the Magic's show.

"It's my team," McGrady acknowledged. "I'm not the guy to lead vocally, but a guy who leads by example by my play (and) with the way I appreciate the game and go into practice. Guys are watching my body language, watch the way I come into practice and the game and watch the way I act.

"Mentally, I am well prepared to handle everything that comes my way now. Over the years, I've sat back and watched other guys handle situations I am in now. Now, I am in that situation and I can handle anything that comes my way. But I had to learn from guys that were in that situation before."

Another thing that McGrady is handling is the constant challenges that super stardom can bring on and off the court.

I don't worry about those things that are said and the past. My job is to go out and try to win games for this organization. That's really what I concentrate on. When there is a problem, I deal with it at the time.
Tracy McGrady

"A guy like myself, I really don't care who I am playing," McGrady said. "Regardless, I am going to bring the same amount of intensity every night. It really doesn't matter. Guys just come out and just play their game.

"There are some young guys in this league who probably feel they are better than some other guys in this league, so they are trying to make a statement. I see it. But it ain't nothing, man. There are two ends of the court."

Recently, McGrady was challenged about his defensive intensity and was caught up in the middle of the Horace Grant soap opera that led up to the veteran forward being waived.

"You don't worry about that," McGrady said. "I just concentrate on basketball, that's what you do. I don't worry about those things that are said and the past. My job is to go out and try to win games for this organization. That's really what I concentrate on. When there is a problem, I deal with it at the time."

While McGrady has been scoring at will and silencing his critics, back problems continue to be a constant problem.

An aching back has been the major injury question for McGrady. But a recent MRI test has confirmed that his back's current injury is nothing more than a deep bruise and isn't similar to his more severe back troubles of the past.

"I am not having the problems I had the past two years," McGrady said. "This is from the elbow I received in the Lakers game (on Dec. 15). It's just a contusion, badly bruised. As far as what I've been going through the past few years, I've solved that problem. I found a doctor (in Orlando) and he got me on a machine that really stretches my back out and put my disc back in place."

If and when McGrady, Hill (ankle) and Mike Miller (strep throat) get totally healthy, McGrady believes his Magic can challenge for the Eastern Conference title. And with the best player in the game leading them with his play and not his words, how can you doubt him?

Marc J. Spears, who covers the Denver Nuggets for the Denver Post, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.

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