On Monday morning, it was announced that the Toronto Raptors would retire Vince Carter’s jersey at the start of the season.
Although many current NBA fans are aware of what Carter did for the Raptors, some aren’t familiar with how special he was in Toronto.
StatMuse highlighted Carter’s output for the Raptors, reminding people that he averaged 23.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game.
He was a six-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA player, Dunk Contest champion, and Rookie of the Year during his time in Toronto.
He also scored the first-ever basket at Scotiabank Arena, which makes this jersey retirement even more fitting.
Vince Carter as a Raptor:
23.4 PPG
5.2 RPG
1.3 SPG
Rookie of the Year
6x All-Star
2x All-NBA
Dunk Contest ChampThe first Raptor to get his jersey in the rafters. pic.twitter.com/TMYOh6fOtV
— StatMuse (@statmuse) September 23, 2024
Carter was picked as the fifth selection in the 1998 NBA draft in a draft-day trade.
He had an amazing first year in the league and his entire tenure in Toronto was impressive.
He made a name for himself as an explosive and aggressive offensive threat and showed off his skills often, especially during the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
Despite all of that, the Raptors never publicly spoke about retiring his jersey until now.
Some fans thought the team was dragging its feet because the partnership with Carter ended badly in 2004 when he demanded a trade and moved on to the New Jersey Nets.
He achieved more success in Jersey and that team will also retire his jersey in 2024-25.
Ironically, the jersey retirement in Toronto will happen on November 2, the night that another Raptors legend is in town.
DeMar DeRozan and his Sacramento Kings will be the opponents that night, which means Toronto fans will have multiple franchise legends in the building.
NEXT:
Insider Reveals When Raptors Will Retire Vince Carter’s Jersey Number
