Tracy McGrady has always been one of the most naturally gifted scorers the NBA has ever seen, but it’s his recent take on The Makeshift Project podcast that had basketball purists nodding in agreement—and casual fans rethinking their hot takes. When asked about the gap between the worst NBA player and the best non-professional baller, T-Mac didn’t hesitate to tell it how it is:
“The misconception is, you have people online talking so much trash about the 10th, 11th, and 12th guy on the NBA roster—they will bust your a**. 100%. They will bust your a** in 1v1.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:DH3wo70MgB0
And he’s right.
That truth has been proven time and again, most famously by Brian Scalabrine, aka the “White Mamba,” who has made it his post-retirement mission to humble hoop dreamers who believe NBA role players are just lucky seat-fillers.
Scalabrine, who averaged 3.1 points per game across 11 NBA seasons and was often the butt of jokes during his playing days, once said, “I’m closer to LeBron than you are to me.” That statement, which might’ve sounded cocky at the time, has aged like fine wine.
Just last month, Scalabrine reminded everyone of the talent chasm that exists between even the lowest-tier NBA pros and elite non-NBA players. In a highly anticipated streetball showdown in New York City, Scalabrine faced off against viral streetball legend George “The Messiah” Papoutsis—and absolutely cooked him.
Despite being out of the league for over a decade and no longer in peak physical shape, Scalabrine relied on fundamentals, elite footwork, and high-level decision-making to dominate the game. From hitting tough fadeaways to bullying in the post, he made the self-proclaimed street legend look completely out of his depth.
This was hardly an isolated event. A decade ago, Scalabrine participated in the now-legendary “Scallenge,” where he destroyed local college players and gym warriors who believed they had what it took to beat a “washed” NBA vet.
They learned the hard way: there’s a reason only 450 players make it into the NBA each year—and even fewer stick.
Tracy McGrady’s commentary, combined with Scalabrine’s viral beatdowns, highlight a brutal reality: NBA players aren’t just good—they’re absurdly good.
The worst NBA player has elite conditioning, years of professional training, and the ability to execute under pressure with laser precision. Whether it’s the last man on the bench or a G-League call-up, these guys are in the 0.01% of basketball talent worldwide.
And yet, the disrespect continues. NBA fans, often guided by social media narratives, frequently take shots at role players or end-of-bench guys, not realizing that these players would dominate at any gym, college court, or rec league in the country.
So the next time you hear someone say, “I could score on that guy,” remember what McGrady said—and watch a clip of Scalabrine going to work. Because the truth is, if you’re not in the NBA, you’re not even close.
