Toronto Raptors icon Vince Carter will experience the honor of a jersey retirement by the Brooklyn Nets soon after the new year passes. The Nets, formerly of New Jersey, will help usher Carter into the Hall of Fame following one of the most visually exciting careers the NBA has showcased.
The Brooklyn Nets will retire Vince Carter’s jersey in a ceremony on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Barclays Center. This is the seventh jersey retirement in franchise history, joining Dražen Petrović, Jason Kidd, John Williamson, Bill Melchionni, Julius Erving, and Buck Williams pic.twitter.com/r4VL9C6QnF
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) September 19, 2024
Half-Man/Half Amazing AKA Vince Carter Has Jersey Retirement Headed His Way
Vince Carter Jersey Retirement Well Earned
On January 25th in Brooklyn, a well-earned, well-deserved jersey retirement will honor NBA legend Vince Carter. This monumental event will set the stage for Carter’s induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Carter will be formally inducted next month after a 22-season career—an electrifying career at that.
While his jersey enshrinement will transpire under the banner of the Brooklyn Nets, Carter, played for the Nets from 2004 to 2009 when New Jersey represented the franchise. Jason Kidd, his teammate in New Jersey, is also in the Hall of Fame.
Carter’s Career Made People Get Out of Their Seats
During his time in Toronto, Vince Carter immediately took the basketball world by storm. He is the team’s fourth-leading scorer, and his 23.4 points per game still marks the franchise’s highest total in its history. But Carter’s fame came from what he did best—dunking. In the 2000 Summer Olympics, Carter threw down what is widely thought as the greatest dunk of all time. That dunk, the “Dunk of Death,” came against France. It was also in 2000 when Carter wowed and shocked the crowds with his criminal Slam Dunk Contest showcase. Shaquille O’Neal knew what was up.
Vinsanity, an alias that shadowed Carter throughout his NBA playing days, continued to entertain during his days following the Raptors. From Toronto and, after that, New Jersey, Carter spent time in Orlando, Phoenix, Dallas, Memphis, Sacramento, and lastly in Atlanta. Carter’s greatness came in the form of showmanship. He also helped build the NBA brand with his enamoring physical abilities and dunking prowess in his early days. His All-Star weekend dunk is still talked about and revered by many NBA players in the league today. Over the years, other NBA legends have raised their metaphorical glasses in Carter’s honor.
Brooklyn and Toronto’s Honor
As Carter’s jersey retirement date has been set, Nets owner Joe Tsai shared his thoughts regarding the event and spoke highly of Vince Carter.
#Nets owner Joe Tsai: “We’re thrilled to honor former Nets player Vince Carter, who contributed so much to this organization both on & off the court. He’s an important part of Nets franchise history & we look forward to welcoming him to Barclays Center…to celebrate his legacy.”
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) September 19, 2024
The Nets are not the only team to pay Carter tribute this season. With the league’s new City Edition Jerseys being leaked earlier this week, the Toronto Raptors new look harks back to the days when Vince Carter donned their uniform. The oversized Raptor on purple was and is still one of the NBA’s most iconic jerseys. The team has resurrected their early days logo, last worn in the 1998-99 season—Carter’s first with the Raptors—for this season’s City Edition look. Notably, the Raptors haven’t retired Vince Carter’s number, however, he fully deserves that honor in Toronto.
