As a former superstar in the league, Tracy McGrady's talent is considered a once-in-a-century phenomenon, boasting a combination of height, wingspan, speed, leaping ability, and explosiveness that set him apart among swingmen. McGrady's talent was so high that even Michael Jordan took notice; the Bulls once considered trading Scottie Pippen for this young prodigy, but the deal ultimately fell through due to Jordan's opposition.
However, it is puzzling that McGrady, hailed as the top high school player in the United States at the time, was only selected ninth overall in the 1997 NBA Draft. Today, we will unveil the mysteries of history, discussing the players who were drafted ahead of McGrady and comparing their talents and achievements with his.
First, let's take a look at the players who were drafted ahead of McGrady in the draft. From eighth to fourth overall, they are Aronardo Foye, Tim Thomas, Ron Mercer, Tony Battie, and Antonio Daniels. These players' careers did not have many highlights; some were role players, while others were benchwarmers. It can be said that they had no notable honors or achievements to speak of. Compared to McGrady, they had nothing to compare except for playing a few more years of college basketball.
Next, we come to the third overall pick, Chauncey Billups. Billups is a player whose abilities outweigh his fame; his mature and stable style of play, excellent performance on both ends of the court, and his big heart in crucial moments earned him the nickname "Mr. Clutch." As the backcourt core of the Pistons at the time, Billups led the team to seven consecutive Eastern Conference Finals and two consecutive Finals appearances, including a victory over the Lakers' F4 in 2004, earning him the title of "Grassroots FMVP" in the hearts of fans.
That year's second overall pick was Keith Van Horn, whom many media outlets and scouts saw as the next Larry Bird. Despite lacking the speed and explosiveness of black players, his comprehensive skills and outstanding shooting ability were rare at the power forward position at the time. In his second year, Van Horn lived up to his potential, averaging an impressive 21 points and 8 rebounds, with a bright future ahead. However, what no one expected was that Van Horn reached his peak upon entering the league; he failed to continue improving afterward, and his overall performance declined year by year. He eventually retired in 2006 due to lack of playing opportunities, becoming a classic example of an NBA player who "wasted his talent."
Finally, the number one pick was "The Big Fundamental" Tim Duncan. Long before the 1997 draft, Duncan had already secured the top spot, with multiple teams openly tanking to get him. The rest of the story is well-known; the Spurs, with their superb acting skills, had the last laugh, while "Red Auerbach" was so angry that he retired. After selecting Duncan, the Spurs embarked on a legendary journey, reaching the finals for 19 consecutive years and winning five championships, officially recognized as a dynasty team. And all of this was attributed to Duncan, the greatest power forward in history.