Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
TORONTO – As far as legacies go, it’s a complicated one for Vince Carter and the Toronto Raptors.
That won’t stop Canada’s lone NBA team from honoring the player who put the franchise on the map.
The Raptors will retire Carter’s No. 15 on Nov. 2 at Scotiabank Arena, making him the first player in franchise history to receive the honor.
“I’m beyond words,” an emotional Carter said Friday as tears ran down his cheeks.
Carter, who was in Toronto for the MLSE Foundation event at the newly renovated Vince Carter Court, expressed his gratitude to the Raptors and hugged team president Masai Ujiri when the news became official.
“It’s never happened before and I’m really grateful to be a part of it,” Carter said, as hundreds of kids packed around the perimeter of the courthouse roared with applause.
In anticipation of the news, the Raptors hung Carter’s jersey in key locations throughout Toronto, with fans viewing the displays on their morning commute.
Carter said it’s an honor to be back in a city he calls his “second home.” Former teammates, club officials and members of the current squad were on hand for the event in a park in the north-west end of the city.
The Raptors are celebrating their 30th anniversary this season. Ujiri said it was “fitting” that Carter had his jersey retired as part of it.
“This is what I wanted more than anything because I had six crazy years here,” Carter said.
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Fans are still somewhat polarized when it comes to Carter, whose dunks and creativity have made him a highlight reel staple.
He anchored the Raptors in their formative years and lifted them from a squad mired in an expansion groove to respectability. Along the way, a new generation of young people in a hockey crazy country are starting to pay more attention to the hard court.
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But Carter’s level dropped before he left Toronto. He requested a trade in 2004 and was dealt to the New Jersey Nets in a mid-season trade that saw the Raptors get little in return.
Carter went on to have a Hall of Fame career and will be formally inducted next month. He is the only player in NBA history to play in four different decades.
“The Vince Carter effect is real,” Ujiri said. “It doesn’t matter what has happened. Time heals things and we continue to build for the future.
“If we’re talking about championships, it’s one of those that has set us up to be where we are and hopefully where we can be.”
Carter led the Raptors to limited success in the playoffs – he only won one playoff series in Toronto – but the star’s exponential rise at the turn of the century created a significant change.
A team often mocked for its cartoonish dinosaur logo and poor play suddenly improved and global talent led the way.
The Raptors became cool and Carter’s gravity-defying dunks helped provide an exclamation point for the transition.
“Vinsanity” gripped Toronto and eventually the league. A one-sided victory in a slam dunk contest in 2000 took things to another level.
Carter put on a show with a performance that left his teammates wide-eyed and had judges jumping over their tables to congratulate him. A confident “It’s over!” a statement to the camera only stating the obvious.
Carter helped the Raptors reach the playoffs for the first time that spring. He also led Toronto to the Eastern Conference semifinals in a memorable postseason in 2001.
The Raptors lost to the Philadelphia 76ers when Carter missed a shot at the buzzer in Game 7. He faced criticism for attending his graduation at the University of North Carolina on the morning of the deciding game.
Carter signed a lucrative six-year extension with Toronto later that year. However, the sensation of the superstar re-signing with the club disappeared a few seasons later.
Injuries became a problem and fans began to question Carter’s work ethic. After he was traded, Carter went on to spend parts of five seasons with the Nets – now based in Brooklyn – who will also have his number retired later in the season.
Adored during his glory days with Toronto, the boos were deafening when Carter first returned but faded over the years. He ended up mending fences with the team.
When reports emerged this week that his number 15 would be raised to the rafters at Scotiabank Arena, it sparked debate over how the 47-year-old compares to other leading players in franchise history.
Chris Bosh, DeMar DeRozan and Pascal Siakam enjoyed strong years in Toronto.
Kyle Lowry was the heart and soul of a Raptors team that finally broke through in 2019 with an NBA title. Kawhi Leonard’s single season in the city helped produce that individual championship.
Regardless, Carter, love him or hate him, left an indelible mark on the franchise. He also had an immeasurable impact on the sport in Toronto and across Canada.
In the end, a messy exit won’t detract from a reach that led to a stellar career and made the Raptors a franchise that mattered.
“He helped us take the steps that our franchise needs,” Ujiri said.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on September 27, 2024.
Follow @GregoryStrongCP on X.
& copy 2024 The Canadian Press
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://globalnews.ca/news/10778231/raptors-expected-to-confirm-carter-plans/
