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“It’s unbelievable”: Vincent Carter gets emotional as the Raptors pays tribute to him by officially retiring his No. 15 jersey

The Toronto Raptors retired Vince Carter's No. 15 jersey, honorin... Read More
Vincent Carter played 22 seasons in the NBA, tying him for the most seasons ever with LeBron James, who also tied him for that distinction. Carter is the first player to have played in the NBA during four different decades. He will be a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2024. As the Raptors commemorate 30 seasons, they paid tribute to Vince Carter by retiring his iconic number 15 jersey in the rafters of Scotiabank Arena.

Vince Carter gets emotional during the Raptors’ tribute

In honor of Vincent Carter, the Raptors officially retired his No. 15 jersey in the rafters at Scotiabank Arena, 30 years of service to the franchise. How fitting that the tribute to Carter, who transformed the expansion team into a global phenomenon, was long overdue for fans. And when Carter took the mic, emotions flowed. “It’s not just Carter 15 going up, it’s all of us going up,” he said. His voice carried the weight of two decades of memories. “The memories, however you view it, go up tonight. I hope and pray we enjoy our jersey being retired forever together.”


Just a week after they introduced their bright purple court for the NBA Cup, the Raptors doubled the celebration of Carter by introducing a new dinosaur logo to go with their updated floor design, featuring a between-the-legs dunk and Carter's iconic No. 15. The two-time NBA champion couldn't hold back his excitement when he was moved, sharing a photo from the Raptors vs. Timberwolves game on his Instagram story. He wrote, “It’s unbelievable seeing that court and the @raptors wearing my city edition jersey.”

Carter is the only player in the history of the NBA to have played in a game in four different decades. He stands as one of the oldest players to compete in the NBA, taking fourth place in its list. He is one of six players in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists per game for 10 consecutive seasons. He is also one of six players in league history with 24,000 points, 6,000 rebounds, 2,500 assists, 1,000 steals, and 1,000 3-point field goals. Carter presently holds the record for most game-winning 3-point buzzer beaters in NBA history.

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He is also the second cousin of NBA player Tracy McGrady, whose grandmother was the sister of Carter's step-great-grandfather. He and McGrady were teammates with the Raptors from 1998 to 2000. They were unaware of the relation until a family reunion in 1997.
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