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Toronto Raptors: 25 Best Players To Play For The Raptors

By Phil Watson

May 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the Air Canada Centre with t-shirts laid out on seats in a Canadian flag pattern prior to Toronto Raptors hosting Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the Air Canada Centre with t-shirts laid out on seats in a Canadian flag pattern prior to Toronto Raptors hosting Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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UNITED STATES – DECEMBER 22: Basketball: Toronto Raptors Tracy McGrady (1) in action, taking shot vs New York Knicks Chris Dudley (14) and Kurt Thomas (40), New York, NY 12/22/1999 (Photo by Manny Millan/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (SetNumber: X59383)
UNITED STATES – DECEMBER 22: Basketball: Toronto Raptors Tracy McGrady (1) in action, taking shot vs New York Knicks Chris Dudley (14) and Kurt Thomas (40), New York, NY 12/22/1999 (Photo by Manny Millan/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (SetNumber: X59383) /

SF. 1997-2000. Tracy McGrady. 13. player. 81. <strong>How acquired:</strong> 9th overall pick from Mount Zion Christian Academy (Durham, N.C.), 1997 NBA Draft.

McDonald’s All-American Tracy McGrady from Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, N.C., opted to make the leap straight to the pros and was taken ninth overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 1997 NBA Draft.

He developed into a solid scoring option off the bench by his third season, but agreed to a free agent contract with the Orlando Magic and was sent there in a sign-and-trade in August 2000 in exchange for a first-round pick in 2005.

TOR_13_MCGRADY
TOR_13_MCGRADY /

In three seasons in Toronto, McGrady averaged 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.0 steals in 24.7 minutes per game, shooting .448/.284/.712.

McGrady’s career took off with the Magic. He was the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2000-01, a four-time All-Star, a four-time All-NBA selection and led the NBA in scoring twice.

He was traded to the Houston Rockets in June 2004, earning three more All-Star nods and three-more All-NBA selections.

Traded to the New York Knicks as part of a three-team deal in February 2010, McGrady left in August 2010 to sign with the Detroit Pistons and signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Hawks in December 2011.

After playing most of the 2012-13 season in China, McGrady came back to the NBA as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs in April 2013, his last NBA stop.

He dabbled in professional baseball, pitching in four games for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters in 2014 and announced his retirement from basketball—again—during a tour of China in August 2015.

Next: Euroleague MVP Made A Nice Return To NBA

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