It's been a while since Tracy McGrady was last seen doing something important in the NBA. In his last few years in the league, he was definitely washed up and broken.
After retiring after playing with the San Antonio Spurs in 2013, T-Mac played some ball in China as well as some baseball pitching. McGrady, now 35 years old, wants back in the league.
T-Mac tells Bleacher Report he can still play, and wants to do his own thing. He also thinks he'd be a good fit in Los Angeles with Kobe and the Lakers.
"The thing is, I can still go, man," T-Mac says. He is driving from lunch to his daughter Layla's junior high school volleyball game, but the workout is still on his mind.
"My body is still in shape. I can go. It's about opportunity, though. … I want no limits on who I am and what I can do, not stand in the corner and shoot jump shots," he says. "I want to be involved, that's not saying 10 to 15 shots, I want to be involved. I don't want to stand in the corner and shoot threes. That's not me."
The ideal team, T-Mac says, would be the Lakers. The Lakers are inexperienced. The Lakers need players. He could be the second star the Lakers must have to go with Bryant.
"This Kobe," he says. "I could play with him."
If only T-Mac could find a team that agrees with him. Even Williams, who fondly remembers the back-to-back NBA scoring titles McGrady had for his Magic a decade ago, sighs softly when asked about the comeback.
"Tracy has milked every bit of basketball talent out of his body," Williams says. "There's nothing left."
T-Mac disagrees with Williams, though
Still McGrady pushes through these workouts, because after 15 months away from the NBA there is something in these jump shots. His body feels young again.
The back spasms that sabotaged his prime seasons are gone. The left knee pain that took away his speed has disappeared. He is fresh. He is certain if he works extra hard and gets into what he calls “tip-top” shape, he can matter for a team again.
“I’m better than half the damn league, anyway,” he will later grumble.
Hhmmmm.....
