Recently retired NBA star Tracy McGrady admits he once considered taking performance enhancing drugs as he attempted to battle back from a serious knee injury.

Appearing on an episode of NBA TV's Open Court, McGrady said he feared he would never fully recover from the injury and at one point "considered all options" in trying to get back to being the same player he had been early-on during his 15-year NBA career.

"I've never said this to nobody," said McGrady. "Because I was playing at such a high level for so many years, and when I had my knee injury, I was doing everything in my power to get back to that level. Naturally, I couldn't do it. Because I just didn't have the strength, I didn't have the confidence, and I just didn't believe that I was going to get there doing it naturally. I actually considered - I considered - getting an advantage. And whatever that was, doing it illegally ... I considered that to get back."

McGrady, who was a seven-time All-Star and two-time scoring champ, announced his retirement earlier this summer. He has yet to rule out the prospect of playing abroad.