Tracy McGrady

Tracy McGrady's peak was as good as any player who has ever lived. From 2001 to 2005, he was a two-time scoring champion who averaged over 25 points per game every season and carried the Orlando Magic to the playoffs almost entirely on his own. His 13 points in 35 seconds against the Spurs in 2004 remains the most astonishing individual scoring burst in NBA history — a sequence that defied probability so thoroughly that it barely seems real even on replay.

McGrady's combination of size (6'8"), handle, shooting touch, and athleticism gave him one of the most complete offensive arsenals in history. His fadeaway was virtually unblockable. His first step was explosive. His ability to pull up from anywhere on the floor and drain mid-range jumpers or three-pointers made him the most skilled scorer of his generation — and in a generation that included Kobe Bryant, that is saying something.

The tragedy of McGrady's career is injuries. His back and knees betrayed him in his late twenties, robbing him of what should have been his prime years. He never advanced past the first round of the playoffs — a staggering 0-for-7 record that haunts his legacy. But peak T-Mac was a basketball savant whose talent was surpassed by virtually no one who has ever played the game.