TORONTO – Former Toronto Raptors star Vince Carter’s No. 15 will be retired by NBA teams this season, a person familiar with the situation told The Canadian Press.
The 47-year-old Hall of Famer will have his jersey number retired in Toronto on Nov. 2, becoming the first Raptor to receive the honor.
The source confirmed details of the jersey retirements on condition of anonymity because they have not yet been officially announced.
Carter was the Raptors’ first superstar and is credited with raising the team’s profile and sparking a passion for basketball across Canada.
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But the decision to retire his jersey number remains polarizing, with some fans and local media still angry over the bitter incident that led to his departure from the team in December 2004. Carter was traded to the New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets for a meager sum early in the 2004–05 season, and allegations were made that he had “quit” on the team.
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Carter appeared in 403 games for the Raptors, averaging 23.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals.
While in Toronto, Carter, an athlete, was perhaps best known for his highlight-reel dunking ability. He won the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest with a memorable performance, winning the title with a 360-degree windmill jam.
He was an eight-time NBA All-Star (2000-07), but even when his explosiveness left him, he found a place as a veteran role player. Carter played 22 seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, retiring after the 2019-20 season, and is the only NBA player to have played in action in four different decades.
Carter was drafted fifth overall by Golden State and traded to Toronto in that year’s draft, making his debut with the Raptors in 1998.
He also played for Dallas, Memphis, Orlando, Sacramento, and Phoenix. Carter finished with averages of 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1 steal in 1,541 regular-season NBA games.
Carter will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame next month and will have his number retired by the Nets in January.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24, 2024.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
