Vince Carter

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Lore & Background

Carter's professional journey began when he was drafted fifth overall by the Golden State Warriors in 1998 but immediately traded to the Toronto Raptors. There, he won the 1999 Rookie of the Year Award and captivated fans with his slam dunk contest victory at the 2000 NBA All-Star Weekend, featuring a 360° windmill and an 'elbow in the rim' dunk. His legendary status was cemented during the 2000 Summer Olympics, where he delivered the famous 'Dunk of Death' against France while leading Team USA to gold. Over his career, he played for eight other franchises including the New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, and Atlanta Hawks. In 2016, he received the Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year Award, highlighting his evolution from a high-flying scorer to a respected veteran leader.

In Their Own Story

On January 31, 2012, Carter was designated one of the 35 greatest McDonald's All-Americans. His college career at North Carolina saw him advance to two Final Fours before declaring for the draft alongside Antawn Jamison. After earning a degree in Afro-American studies in August 2000, he continued his education while playing professionally. In December 2004, a major trade sent him from Toronto to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Alonzo Mourning and others; upon returning to Toronto on April 15, 2005, he scored 39 points despite being heavily booed by fans who once embraced him. His scoring prowess was evident early on, as he recorded a game with 42 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals against the Denver Nuggets on December 7, 2001, becoming only the second player since 1973–74 to achieve such stats in a single game.

Reader's Guide

Carter's statistical legacy includes making the eleventh most three-point field goals in NBA history. He led the Toronto Raptors to their first-ever playoff appearance in 2000 and their first playoff series win in 2001, where he scored 50 points in Game 3 against the Philadelphia 76ers. In that same series, he set an NBA playoff record for most three-point field goals made in one game. Off the court, his philanthropy is well-documented; he established the Embassy of Hope Foundation to help children and families in Florida, New Jersey, and Ontario. His community impact earned him recognition as Child Advocate of the Year by the Children's Home Society in 2000 and the Florida Governor's Points of Light award in 2007.

Did You Know?

• Carter is the only player to have played in the NBA during four different decades (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s).
• He shares a unique statistical feat with Charles Barkley: scoring 40 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, recording 5 assists, and making 5 steals in a single game.
• During high school at Mainland High School, he averaged 24 kills per match in volleyball, while none of his teammates averaged more than one.
• He led the United States to a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics, where he also delivered his famous 'Dunk of Death' against France.
• In 2003, Carter gave up his starting spot in the NBA All-Star Game specifically to allow Michael Jordan to make his final start.