Rarely do legendary pro athletes like Tom Brady and LeBron James play at high levels well into their 40s.
Most NBA stars, such as Tracy McGrady, who called it quits after the 2012-13 season, his 16th, couldn't defeat Father Time.
McGrady, who helmed the Adidas ABCD Camp relaunch in Phoenix, from July 30-Aug. 1, discussed the 41-year-old James, formerly the league's most coveted free agent.
"He's one of a kind man," McGrady said to The Arizona Republic. "He really is just a guy that really never dealt with any injuries throughout his career that really took him out. He takes care of his body."
Like McGrady, James rose to fame at the ABCD Camp then entered the league at 18 out of high school.
James continues adding to a litany of league records, including
the all-time leading scorer mark, and blitzed past Vince Carter's record 22 seasons played.
James is coming off a season in which he played 60 games and averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists.
"For LeBron, his mindset is different," McGrady said. "You got to be disciplined to like a level that nobody has reached, to be able to play 25 years, to wake up every single morning. To have that motivation still get out of bed and be and want to be great like that, that is a different mindset.
"And I know a lot of people questioning, you know, LeBron, some of his decision making in games. But man, you cannot question that man's mind and his approach toward being great because 20, 24 years and still is one of the best players in the NBA. ... A lot of teams will if if they had a chance, they would take him over a lot of these cats nowadays, even though he's going into his 24th year."
McGrady was a seven-time All-Star and two-time scoring champion who played for Toronto, Orlando, Houston, New York, Detroit, Atlanta and San Antonio.
He was traded from Orlando to Houston during his heyday in 2004 and played six years there.
McGrady laughed as he reflected on his favorite memory playing against the Suns in Phoenix, which included a brawl on Nov. 12, 2008.
"I was with the Rockets and Shaq was on the (Suns) team, and it was a game where we were going back and forth," McGrady said. "Great competition. Great game. And one of my teammates (Rafer Alston) gets into it with the other (Matt Barnes of the Suns). So I'm going over and trying to break up the little scuffle. I'm pushing guys out of the way. I pushed Steve Nash, and Shaq comes out of nowhere and just pushes me.
"And we like, fall down like bowling pins, like everybody. He just cleared the whole thing out, and I got pissed off, and I ended up kicking ass and we won the game."
McGrady finished with a game-high 27 points.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tracy McGrady on LeBron joining 76ers, Suns-Rockets fight | Exclusive
