Vince Carter's a HOFer!

Vince Carter’s dunk over Frédéric Weis is my favorite in-game dunk ever, and his 2000 Dunk Contest performance is my all-time favorite. And guess who my all-time favorite dunker is?

If you thought Dominique Wilkins, that’s fair! I was almost named after him. Anyway, of course my favorite is Carter.

He’s been my fave since I first watched him at UNC Tarheels in 1996. He and Antawn Jamison were the dynamic duo for three straight seasons there, but it was Carter’s heights and acrobatic dunks that floored me. I was not surprised his athleticism took him ever farther in the NBA.

His rookie season was in the 1999 lockout season, and his retirement during COVID. I hate that he started and finished his season amidst chaos, but that ain’t stopping him from getting enshrined into the Naismith Hall of Fame next month. His presenters will be Tracy McGrady (whattup, Cuzzo!) and Julius Erving.

Dopeness.

I am not a star-struck person, but the only time I ever yelped because of a celeb sighting was Vince Carter. He was still commentating for the Atlanta Hawks two seasons ago, and my friend and I were at a game. We were near the media area and she asked me, “Who’s that tall guy next to Dominique Wilkins?” I screamed with glee like a toddler as she patiently waited for me to tell her it was Carter. We didn’t even make eye contact — I was just stoked to be in the presence of absolute greatness.

The part that makes me laugh after Carter’s dunk on Weis in the 2000 Olympics is how he immediately went into a squat to play defense. He was making sure nobody did him dirty like he just did the French squad.

I loved every era of Vince Carter’s 22-season career. Toronto Raptors era was his explosive years, but he started to show off his finesse game when he was traded to the New Jersey Nets. Them jumpers were pure, baby!

It looked like the Nets were gonna be the only team to retire his jersey this season, but it was just released today that the Raptors are also retiring it. Raptors and Carter’s relationship was strained for a bit (the boos got crazy), but improved once they won their first championship in 2019. And now his jersey retirement will be the first in franchise history.

Salute to you, Vince Carter!