Tracy McGrady was one of several members of the Orlando Magic taking part in an open question-and-answer session after the team's intrasquad scrimmage earlier this month at training camp.

One fan at the University of South Florida's Sun Dome was handed a microphone and innocuously asked McGrady who he thought was the toughest player to guard in the NBA. All in attendance seemed to be anticipating a diplomatic response -- perhaps Allen Iverson, the league's top scorer last season; perhaps Shaquille O'Neal, the reigning MVP; perhaps even Vince Carter or the soon-to-be-unretired Michael Jordan.

But they would have been as guilty of underestimating McGrady as anyone who thought of him before last season as nothing more than a raw 21-year-old with a world of potential and a disproportionately huge contract from the Magic.

"The toughest player to guard in the NBA, I think, is Tracy McGrady," he replied, with the audience's initial shock giving way to cheers and high-fives.

Well, it isn't bragging if you can do it. And by averaging almost 27 points a game during the regular season and 34 during the Magic's brief playoff run, McGrady proved he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Iverson, Carter and Kobe Bryant.