Why couldn't Tracy McGrady be one of the top 5 players of all time if he would have given 100% from day one?

Question

Is it just me or has it always seemed like Tracy McGrady isn't trying. He, along with Kobe, is the best bad-shot shooter in the NBA. There's nothing he can't do. If he would just give it a little effort once in a while, he could be one of the best of all time. It can't be because of his back, because he was like this even before he got injured. So, what do you think, does T-Mac not care, or is he just lazy?...because he's obviously not giving it his all.

Ok, I meant best bad-shot shooter.

- Highest percentage of making bad shots

Answer 1

"Best bad-shot shooter?"
That's an oxymoron.
If you're as good a scorer as T-Mac and Kobe are then any shot is a good shot.
Think about it this way. If any NBA player tried as hard as they needed to, there'd be no "great" players, just a league full of legends. T-Mac has had all the opportunities to care. He was given his own team in Orlando, he got a chance to play with the biggest thing to happen to the NBA since the three-point line when Yao was drafted, he just hasn't gotten it done. It might be time to admit that even though McGrady is one of the best players in this league, he's not a great leader, and he just might have maxed out on his talent level. Your potential has to stop somewhere, and I'm thinking that Tracy's has run out. It doesn't look like he tries because we've seen the same thing out of him every year. He'll never win a title, he's not a Hall of Famer (yet?), but he'll be an All Star every year, and that's the best he can do.
He's a great player for this era, but it stops there.

Answer 2

Hmm... saying one of the top 5 of all time is hard, even now I wouldn't put Kobe there. Maybe in potential or skill where I would rank Kobe in top 3. While only averaging 2 points less per game than Kobe he's never had his "Shaq" in Orlando, Houston, or Toronto to get him the championships that puts him into a "top whatever" discussion. That and I think with the back problems hes on the downside of his career.

Answer 3

That's a tough group to get into, the top 5 of all time.

These are some of the best:
* Bill Russell
* Wilt Chamberlain
* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
* Magic Johnson
* Bob Cousy
* John Stockton
* Michael Jordan
* Oscar Robertson
* Jerry West
* Dr. J - Julius Erving
* Larry Bird
* Elgin Baylor

Answer 4

well as we can see now, he is injury prone, that will keep him out of some prestigous awards. by being in the top 5 that means you would have to knock out some really good players. jordan, bird, magic, kareem, wilt, russell, hakeem etc... that means 1 of them has to be replaced with tmac, that doesnt look right and wont happen.