{"id":101121,"date":"2024-10-14T11:29:56","date_gmt":"2024-10-14T15:29:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=101121"},"modified":"2024-10-14T11:29:56","modified_gmt":"2024-10-14T15:29:56","slug":"highlights-vince-carter-raptors-heavy-hof-enshrinement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/10\/14\/highlights-vince-carter-raptors-heavy-hof-enshrinement\/","title":{"rendered":"Highlights From Vince Carter\u2019s Raptors-Heavy HOF Enshrinement"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On Sunday, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame got a little bit bigger, as a few legendary figures were <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/04\/06\/naismith-basketball-hall-of-fame-class-of-2024-announced\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">officially enshrined in Springfield<\/a>. It\u2019s amazing that, even when standing alongside <em>them<\/em>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/cartevi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vince Carter<\/a> was the most popular player to receive their magnum opus.<\/p>\n<p>There isn\u2019t a single NBA fan who hasn\u2019t heard of Carter. Whether he\u2019s known to them as \u2018Vinsanity,\u2019 \u2018Half Man\/Half Amazing,\u2019 or just \u2018Vince Carter,\u2019 his name rings bells. He was unable to win an NBA championship in his outstanding career. However, the former fifth overall pick won the 1999 Rookie of the Year award and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/30\/the-4-greatest-toronto-raptors-of-all-time\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">the heart of Canada<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In his second season, he won the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest in spectacular fashion. He led the Raptors to their first playoff appearance in franchise history, taking them as far as the second round. He was named to eight consecutive All-Star Games (the first five with Toronto).<\/p>\n<h2>Highlights From Vince Carter\u2019s Raptors-Heavy HOF Enshrinement<\/h2>\n<p>During his Hall of Fame enshrinement, Carter thanked the Raptors organization, where he spent his first six-plus seasons. He also confirmed that he would enter the Hall of Fame as a member of the Raptors. For a player who suited up for seven teams after leaving Toronto, this was far from a guarantee.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Vince Carter\u2019s HOF speech \ud83c\udfa4<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mrvincecarter15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@mrvincecarter15<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/IWEwTLg1BO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/IWEwTLg1BO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Raptors\/status\/1845640064446918665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 14, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Carter also thanked his cousin, fellow Hall of Fame wing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mcgratr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tracy McGrady<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Vince Carter speaks on the love and support he&#8217;s received from his cousin, Tracy McGrady \ud83e\udd1e<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcfa <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/24HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#24HoopClass<\/a> Enshrinement Ceremony on NBA TV <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3jf2UgtkEj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/3jf2UgtkEj<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 NBA (@NBA) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBA\/status\/1845630623601291409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 14, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>After being drafted, Carter played alongside McGrady with the Raptors for two seasons. Interestingly, Carter says that McGrady promised to get the Raptors to draft him. McGrady, as many know, got off to a slower start than Carter. Nonetheless, he was a top-10 pick. He just might have had enough juice to nudge former Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald in his cousin\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n<p>In any case, family obviously means a lot to Carter. He even had one of those humorous Christmas dinner exchanges with McGrady after saying he played football growing up.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Tracy McGrady couldn&#8217;t contain his laughter when Vince Carter mentioned he played football growing up \ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n<p>That family love \u2764\ufe0f <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Hoophall?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@Hoophall<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BZ893yIDBs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/BZ893yIDBs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SportsCenter\/status\/1845642058809135171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 14, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The proud father of three (two daughters and one son) also took time to include his grandparents in his speech.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">&#8220;Look at your grandson.&#8221; \u2764\ufe0f <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/mCd8bUvCQc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/mCd8bUvCQc<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BrooklynNets\/status\/1845636717866275257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 14, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Julius \u2018Dr. J\u2019 Erving Speaks<\/h3>\n<p>If the tears Carter shed for his late grandmother (Peggy Green) didn\u2019t take fans back to the days when he was just a kid in Florida, perhaps him admitting that he had only gotten the opportunity to meet his idol did. During his speech, he spoke about calling up Hall of Fame forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/e\/ervinju01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Julius Erving<\/a>, who accepted the invitation to be <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/05\/09\/2024-basketball-hall-fame-vince-carter-makes-surprise-announcement\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">one of his presenters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">.<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mrvincecarter15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@mrvincecarter15<\/a> thanking <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JuliusErving?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@JuliusErving<\/a> \ud83e\udd7a <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4l2fquJmrP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/4l2fquJmrP<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BrooklynNets\/status\/1845629848988856795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 14, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Like Carter, Erving played for the Nets for multiple seasons. Even more importantly, there were plenty of similarities in their game, from the aerial acrobatics to the all-around production. In fact, before the Hall of Fame ceremony began, Erving told Sportsnet\u2019s Michael Grange that Carter \u201ccould do things maybe above and beyond what the great forwards in the history of the NBA did.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-media-max-width=\"560\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Caught up with Dr. J, who \u2014 Along with TMac &#8211; will help usher VC into <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Hoophall?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@Hoophall<\/a> tonight: \u201cVince could do things maybe above and beyond what the great forwards in the history of the NBA did. He put on the show, he made the fans happy, and I was a fan and he made me happy too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/michaelgrange\/status\/1845607969825935821?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 13, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>More Honors Are On The Way<\/h3>\n<p>As his speech came to a close, Carter repeated the words that he will now be associated with forever: \u201cHall of Famer.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">&#8220;From now on, they don&#8217;t just say you&#8217;re first and last name without saying&#8230; &#8216;Hall of Famer.'&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Vince Carter closes his induction speech with a congratulations to the entire <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/24HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#24HoopClass<\/a> \ud83d\udc4f <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Kg2GonicYo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/Kg2GonicYo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 NBA (@NBA) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBA\/status\/1845640111075025021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 14, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>As one of the most memorable and recognizable players to have graced the hardwood, all that can be said is the honor is well-deserved.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Congrats to <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/24HoopClass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#24HoopClass<\/a> inductee, Vince Carter! <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/tNELSyVMyy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/tNELSyVMyy<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 NBA (@NBA) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBA\/status\/1845628314133676041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 14, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Now, he can rest on his laurels while he waits for the Raptors and Nets to lift his jersey into the rafters, which <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/23\/toronto-raptors-announce-jeresy-retirement-for-franchise-legend\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">will happen this season<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Sunday, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame got a little bit bigger, as a few legendary figures were officially enshrined in Springfield. It\u2019s amazing that, even when standing alongside them, Vince Carter was the most popular player to receive their magnum opus. There isn\u2019t a single NBA fan who hasn\u2019t heard of Carter. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":101128,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14,4,1608,1166,6,30,32,62,3,49085,17,28,29],"tags":[4300,2150,1199,933],"class_list":["post-101121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-raptors","category-hawks","category-basketball","category-best-moments","category-nets","category-mavericks","category-grizzlies","category-nba","category-news","category-north-carolina","category-magic","category-suns","category-kings","tag-basketball-hall-of-fame","tag-julius-erving","tag-tracy-mcgrady","tag-vince-carter"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101121"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101121\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/101128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}