Vince Carter
(Born 1977)
Hall of Fame Induction: 2024
Card Shown: 2021-22 Panini
National Treasures Penmanship
Position: SG, SF, PF
Height: 6’6″
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Vince Carter is a basketball icon who played for eight different NBA teams during his remarkable twenty-two year career. Widely considered to be the best dunker ever, Vince thrilled crowds with his highlight reel plays. His love for the game led him to play in the NBA into his forties even though he realized it would have an effect on his career statistics. The game meant much more to him than any thought of how his numbers might be interpreted by others.
Carter played for the Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, and Atlanta Hawks before retiring at the age of forty-three. Vince progressed through the stages from superstar to starter to 6th man to role player and mentor as his career unfolded. His life and his game impacted numerous teammates and entertained countless basketball fans around the globe.
Awards and Honors
- In the 1998 NBA Draft, Carter was selected with the fifth pick in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. They promptly traded him to the Toronto Raptors for his University of North Carolina teammate Antawn Jamison. Vince went on to win the 1998-99 NBA Rookie of the Year award in Toronto.
- Carter was an eight-time NBA All-Star and was named to two All-NBA teams during his career.
- Vince was the leading scorer as Team USA won the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. One of his highlight plays was an electric dunk over 7’2″ Frederic Weis of France that is still talked about (and viewed on YouTube) today. The French media named it the “Dunk of Death.”
- On February 12, 2000, Carter put on one of the most amazing displays in NBA history as he won the dunk contest with an array of incredible dunks.
- When Vince retired he was third in career games played (1,541) behind only Robert Parish (1,611) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,560).
Points of Interest
- After being selected by the Golden State Warriors with the fifth pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, Vince was promptly traded to the Toronto Raptors for Antawn Jamison, the fourth pick and Carter’s roommate and teammate at the University of North Carolina.
- Beginning in 1998 and finishing in 2020, Carter is the only NBA player to have played in four different decades.
- Vince is the only player in NBA history to have over 1,000 dunks and 2,000 three-pointers in his career. He finished his playing days with 25,728 points, good for 21st in NBA history at that time.
- Carter was instrumental in the growth of the game of basketball in Canada, earning the nickname “Air Canada” for his dunks and his play above the rim.
- A few months before the NBA draft Vince learned that he was cousins with Tracy McGrady. The two future Hall of Famers already knew each other through basketball. Later they would play together for two years on the Raptors.
Statistics
Vince Carter Statistics
provided by Basketball-Reference.com
Personal Autograph Interaction
At the 2024 Hall of Fame Induction weekend, we had the chance to meet and take pictures with Vince Carter at the pre-party before the Hall of Fame Enshrinement ceremony. We got our cards signed at the official Hall of Fame autograph session.
Thank you, Vince!
In-Person Autograph Photos
Meeting Vince Carter at the 2024 Hall of Fame Enshrinement Pre-Party
2012-13 Panini Signature Stars signed at the Hall of Fame autograph session