Tracy McGrady - Phenomenal Footwork (Triple Threat & Postup Series)

Tracy McGrady. Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame (Class of 2017). 7x NBA All-Star. 2x All-NBA First Team. 3x All-NBA Second Team. 2x All-NBA Third Team. 2x NBA Scoring Champion. The league’s Most Improved Player in 2001. Kobe Bryant called T-Mac the TOUGHEST guy he has ever played against. Paul Pierce said, “since there was no way to stop Tracy’s shot, you just had to do everything you could to make sure he didn’t get in a position to shoot.” Tracy himself probably said it best, he’s a versatile player, he can go inside, he can go outside, so “how do you want it?”

Range. Skill. Handle. Size. Power. Force. Most importantly: an indomitable will. T-Mac was never one to back away from a big game. He defied defenses with his dizzying and dynamic playmaking because, and he readily admitted this himself, he didn’t have a go-to move. You couldn’t plan for what he was going to do, because he didn’t have just A move, he had all of them.

To watch Tracy is to be envious of his talent, otherworldly as it seems. He can literally do everything on the court, and yet, his moves just build off of one another. It starts with one of the basics of basketball: his footwork is the foundation for his fantastical forays and it, like his range, just continues out from there. I wanted to make a highlight reel worthy of a Hall of Famer, but I noticed something will combing through as many hours of footage as I could find: his greatest highlights, his most powerful posters, were byproducts of his pump fake. His George Gervin/Julius Erving-esque finishes stemmed from his triple threat. His jab made it so he didn’t need his cross. He’s got a hell of a handle, but watch this video and you’ll see that a well-timed attack off the right read from a triple threat, or scissored feet and/or the attack off the catch can kill the defender cold. The beauty of his ability to blow by his guy is because, yes, he is athletic, but that’s not the only thing that let’s him do that. Watch this video and work on what he did; reads, and moves, and counters to those moves. The ability to go over either shoulder, off either foot, finish ambidextrously, goes a lot farther than just wishing you were born with what made McGrady great.

Jab Step. Pump Fake. Step through. Reverse Pivot. Dropstep. These don’t sound as sexy as the combos you string together WITH the basketball, but believe me when I tell you that the basics make the game, and the devil is in the details. It may seem boring to work on the little things every day, but excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better. Just look at what it did for T-Mac.

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[jaaay]

He could’ve possibly went down as the greatest scorer ever. He definitely is the most underrated. Too much talent is what you saw in T-Mac. Scoring without effort with such a sleepy demeanor. The cleverness, footwork, quickness, etc. it’s literally as if he never worked on his game. That’s how effortless he made it look. Plus he was well rounded offensively. He was a good passer too.

If he played every NBA player 1v1, T-Mac wins 98% of those matches.

[elfo]

McGrady is my favorite player of all time. He was an absolute beast and there was something very special about him. His game was so aesthetically impressive to watch. I miss this era.

[DennisBlancaflor]

Tmac is Kobe's match-up nightmare

[FisicaCiencia]

He is kevin durant, paul george and james jarden but 10 years ahead. Revolutionary player

[Lexcyyy]

the emphasis on him having fun while playing with and crossing up legends is crazy, he’s the 6’8 iverson kobe was talking abt😭

[Tooeazi]

This dude is underated as a player compared to other greats. One of the best, smooth criminal, had a nonchalant face, but was coming at you.

[chethomas]

Bro his footwork was so deadly, his post game was so lethal. Man that mid range game was a killer Tracy was one of the best man 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[SumoBootd]

Tmac & Kobe got the best footwork I’ve seen to this day 💯

[moneybagshawty]

He was 6’8 & could blow past you if he wanted to but was a true student of the game just look at that skillset with his footwork.

[kudabeen]

Mid-range and one/two dribble in and out of the post was elite level killer moves...Carmelo made a living off T-Mac style quick post moves...That inside hard dribble spin back over either shoulder that can be a layup or if your strength and footwork are there a balanced fade away was crazy...Saw Mac embarrass a young all league defense Kobe with that one...not just once...

He also had this move while in the post where he'd dribble hard behind the back under the defenders arm in his back, the defender would have to react and take a half step back...Mac is dribbling from from right to left, so as the defender is stepping back the left following the ball...Mac as the ball reaches his left hand quickly pivots off his right foot turning over his right shoulder for a WIDE open mid/close J...Cash.

He had crazy ability...Durrant for as good as he is he isn't T-Mac with the move...KD add that foot work he'd average 30-35 easy, but he isn't as aggressive and now that he is on a team that doesn't need him to compete he really takes his foot off the gas...

That is the crime of this "super team" stuff...we don't get to see the best players dig that much deeper for those huge 50, 60, 70pt performances or matchup battles as much...

[nekhmerXViet]

He and kobe had the best high post up games at the guard position since jordan and NOBODY has come close since. Guys like DeMar are getting there but still a tier lower

[oneman]

Despite Kobe improving his jumper during his later years, I've always felt McGrady was the better jump shooter. Especially from beyond the arc. During '00-'05, T-Mac no doubt was the better shooter... but Kobe made up ground from '06 onwards...

McGrady definitely was more athletically gifted than Kobe, but skill-wise Kobe still tops him. Evidenced by when T-Mac lost his explosiveness after '08 due to injuries... he just couldn't sustain his skills without his athleticism...

Still a great player and deserving of the HOF

[hushus]

That turnaround jumper is a thing of beauty.

If there is one play I would add, is that behind the back dribble jumper he did against Livingston in '06.Great vid, nonetheless.

[cmmusic]

How this man wasn’t top 75 is criminal 🤦🏿‍♂️ I’m seeing a lot of guys with TMac in their game in today’s NBA.

[balbin]

Not only does he great footwork, Tmac has great lift on his jumper. He was truly a nightmare to gaurd💯

[jreel]

One of the most underrated aspects of his game. The guy was always able to find his spots and hit from any scoring position. You think you have Mac beat and he gives you one fake and it's over. Dudes footwork was impeccable even post prime days.

[anthonyantmanedwardsisbett]

5:54 he was 6’8 with that lightening quick first step. TMac was so so special. I’ve never seen a basketball player as physically talented as him, Lebron and Westbrook are right up there but McGrady could’ve been more smh

[BigDoughBoy]

You the goat for this Evin 🙏🏾🔥💯.... one of best players all time even thru injury ....Glad he made that elusive HOF

[captinhindsight]

Killer pull up game, killer footwork and handles, tmac was a pure scoring machine! Sucks injures got to him so soon.

[ninjanatsu]

top 3 most identical body movements.
1. jordan
2. kobe
3. t.mac