"Tracy McGrady deflects a pass, then races toward the perimeter a few seconds later to close out on an opponent. Later, he catches the ball in the post and drops a nice pass for a cutting teammate along the baseline.

This is what a highlight film for McGrady looks like these days. Yes, he can still jump high for an occasional dunk or an impressive move to the basket, but the 31-year-old former scoring champion is contributing for the Detroit Pistons as a dependable point guard.

McGrady now facilitates the offense instead of dominating it - but after two seasons ruined by knee problems, he is proving he can still play a major role for an NBA team.

"He was a superstar, and he has checked his ego," Pistons coach John Kuester said. "He really doesn't care whether he scores. He wants to make sure that everybody's involved."

Nobody knew quite what to expect when McGrady signed a one-year contract with the Pistons in August. He'd played just 65 games the previous two seasons with Houston and New York, his career in jeopardy following microfracture surgery on his left knee in February 2009. Once one of the league's most dynamic players, McGrady wasn't even a starter on opening night for the Pistons."