At just 24 years of age and with six years already in the league, Tracy McGrady has emerged as one of the game's most explosive guards. The basketball phenom made the leap straight from high school to the NBA, drafted 9th overall by the Toronto Raptors. The six-foot, eight-inch, 210-pounder burst onto the scene after his third season in the league, averaging 26.8 points per contest and winning the NBA's Most Improved Player award in 2000-2001. The three-time All-Star is also in the record books for having the highest scoring average in NBA history for players 21 or under. McGrady is coming off his best season in the NBA, while leading the league in scoring (32.1 points per game), he was also ranked within the top 18 NBA players in more than 20 statistical categories.
Payton, a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist (1996 and 2000), joins the 989 Sports team after 13 seasons in the NBA. Payton is among the fiercest defenders in NBA history, known as "The Glove," he is the only player in NBA history to be selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team for nine consecutive seasons (1994-2002). Payton was also the first guard to win the Defensive Player of the Year award (1996) since Michael Jordan won the award in 1988. In addition, the six-foot, four-inch, point guard is one of only eight players in NBA history to compile 15,000 points, 6,000 assists and 1,000 steals. Originally drafted in 1990, out of the University of Oregon State, Payton was the highest draft pick ever for the Seattle SuperSonics, going in the first round, 2nd overall.
Allen, a first-round draft selection, 5th overall, out of the University of Connecticut in 1996, has continuously been among the NBA leaders in three-point shooting. Last season, the six-foot, five-inch guard not only led the league in three-point field goals but also was among the leaders in points per game and free throw percentage. Averaging more than 20 points per game for the past four seasons, Allen was selected to the All-Star team each year highlighted by his winning the 1-800 CALL ATT Shootout during the 2001 All-Star Weekend. Allen has also starred in the critically acclaimed Spike Lee basketball film, "He Got Game."
"Signing these incredible basketball players is a tremendous opportunity for 989 Sports," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "We have arguably the three best guards in the game today and their enthusiasm, talent, and knowledge of the game will be a great addition to the NBA ShootOut franchise."
The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates NBA ShootOut 2004 "RP" for Rating Pending.