Vince Carter

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"Vince Carter" may also refer to a fictional character from the television sitcom Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. portrayed by Frank Sutton

Vince Carter

Position	Shooting guard
Height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Team	New Jersey Nets
Jersey	#15
Born	January 26, 1977 (1977-01-26) (age 31) Daytona Beach, Florida
Nationality	USA
College	North Carolina
Draft	5th overall, 1998 Golden State Warriors
Pro career	1998–present
Former teams	Toronto Raptors 1998–2004
Awards	8-time All-Star 2-time All-NBA Selection 1999 NBA Rookie of the Year 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Champion

Vincent Lamar "Vince" Carter (born January 26, 1977) is an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is currently a shooting guard for the New Jersey Nets.

[edit] Brief biography

Carter, born in Daytona Beach, Florida, was a McDonald's All-American basketball player in 1995, out of Mainland High School in Daytona Beach.^[1] After high school, Carter spent three seasons playing at the University of North Carolina, before entering the 1998 NBA Draft. Carter enjoyed tremendous popularity during his initial years in the NBA, especially after showcasing his athletic abilities in the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, in which he competed alongside his third cousin^[2] and then teammate Tracy McGrady. He took the newly franchised Toronto Raptors to new heights, as he helped lead the team to three consecutive playoff berths. In 2004, he was traded to the New Jersey Nets, whom he currently plays for. Until 2006, Carter had perennially topped All-Star team voting.

[edit] Collegiate career

In 1995, Carter began playing college basketball at North Carolina under Dean Smith and later, Bill Guthridge. During the 1997-1998 season, he was a member of new coach Bill Guthridge's successful "Six Starters" rotation with Antawn Jamison, Shammond Williams, Ed Cota, Ademola Okulaja and Makhtar N'Diaye. That season (his final college season), he averaged 15.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game to go along with career averages of 12.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.^[3]

Carter also became a pioneer of the internet during his collegiate career. In 1995, Carter became the second collegiate athlete, after teammate Shammond Williams, to have a website dedicated to him.^[4]

[edit] NBA career

[edit] Toronto Raptors

In 1998, Carter was drafted by the NBA's Golden State Warriors with the fifth overall pick, and then traded to the Toronto Raptors for Antawn Jamison, his college teammate and good friend.^[5] Carter's rookie season was the shortened 50-game 1999 season after the NBA locked out its players in 1998-99. Carter started almost every game for coach Butch Carter and eventually won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.^[6] The next year, Carter was selected to an All-Star Team for the first time, and showcased his athleticism and dunking abilities in the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. He won the contest by performing an array of dunks including a 360° windmill, a between the legs bounce dunk, and an "elbow in the rim" dunk (also known as a "cookie jar" dunk)."^[5] Though he never competed in the dunk contest again for safety purposes, Carter was voted into the Eastern Conference NBA All-Star Team starting lineup several times through fan balloting.^[7]

In Carter's first two seasons, his teammate was cousin and future all-star Tracy McGrady; the two would form a formidable one-two punch as Raptor teammates. Though initially tight and close on the surface, McGrady often found himself in Carter's shadow. The duo of Carter and McGrady led the Raptors to their first playoff berth in the 2000 NBA Playoffs, but they were swept by the New York Knicks in 3 games. Upon McGrady's departure to the Orlando Magic the following season, Carter became the Raptors' franchise player.

On the morning of the day of Game 7 of the 2001 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers), Sunday, May 20, he attended his UNC graduation.^[8] In that game, Carter missed a game-winning shot with 2.0 seconds remaining.^[9] and shot just 6 of 18 from the field.^[10]

In the summer of 2001, Carter signed a $94-million, six-year extension with the Raptors.^[11] In addition, Carter announced that he would be hosting a charity basketball game featuring fellow NBA stars that would be played at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on August 3, 2001. The success of the first game encouraged Carter to make the game an annual summer event.

The next season was an injury-riddled one for Carter. He started in 60 games and he averaged 24.7 points per game. He was voted in the 2002 NBA All-Star Game but he couldn't participate due to injury. The Raptors didn't fare well without their All-Star player. The team lost 17 of 18 to drop to 30-38, then won their 12 of their last 14 to finish at 42-40. Carter was injuried during the 2002 Playoffs and his team was beat by the Pistons.

During the 2003 NBA All-Star Game, under great public pressure, Carter gave up his starting All-Star spot to the Washington Wizards' Michael Jordan to allow Jordan to make his final start as an All-Star.^[12]

As his Raptor tenure progressed, Raptor fans began to witness a transition in Carter's offensive game that featured more perimeter shooting. This was in stark contrast to Carter's initial repertoire of regular drives to the hoop for dunks which had subsequently gone on a decline. This, combined with Carter's chronic injury problems, predominantly from Jumper's Knee,^[13] had some Raptor fans questioning his toughness and durability. Carter's work ethic was also questioned with his play declining as the years went on, culminating in a mediocre 15.9 points per game in 2004-2005^[14] before his eventual trade. Carter became frustrated with the Raptors' management team as he was promised input by President Richard Peddie on the hiring of the next general manager. The Raptors failed to do so - Carter recommended Julius Erving^[15], who arrived at Pearson Airport and never set foot at the Air Canada Centre for a legitimate meeting. On November 22, 2004, when pressed by the local media about his lack of dunks, Carter sarcastically responded, "I don't want to dunk anymore."^[16]

In late December 2004, there were allegations that Carter tipped off the opposing Seattle SuperSonics (the Raptors' opponents on November 19, 2004) of an upcoming Raptors play by yelling "It's a flare! It's a flare!".^[17] However, no further actions were taken and the accusations were found to be baseless. Sources report that Reggie Evans was the Sonics player who was the source for the story and he later back tracked on his accusation saying he didn’t hear anything from Carter about tipping plays in order to sabotage the Raptors. Ray Allen was the player guarding Carter on the inbounds pass standing right next to him, and he said he didn’t hear anything from Carter about sabotaging plays, either.

[edit] New Jersey Nets

Carter made it clear in the 2004 off-season that he wanted to be traded from the Raptors.^[18] On December 17, 2004, Raptors General Manager Rob Babcock traded Carter to the New Jersey Nets for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and two future first-round draft picks. The trade to the Nets, combined with Carter's continually declining popularity with Raptors fans, also put an end to his charity basketball games in Toronto, with the last one being played in the summer of that year.

In early January 2005, he stated during a television interview with TNT's John Thompson to not giving effort in his last months as a Raptor; when asked if he always played hard, Carter replied, "In years past, no. I was fortunate to have the talent. You get spoiled when you're able to do a lot of things. You see that you don't have to work at it."^[19] However, it was shown later that his comments were miscontrued and edited for television. Thompson himself later stated, "“That boy never said to me, ‘Coach, I just laid down and quit...I was embarrassed and felt awful about it for his sake, because I knew what he was communicating to me. I think he was more expressing a desire of wanting to do better, as we all do.” ^[20]

Months after the TNT interview, Carter returned to Toronto as a member of the Nets on April 15, 2005. Carter scored 39 points in front of a hostile Toronto Raptors crowd that booed him throughout. The fans jeered him the entire game, but the Carter and the Nets triumphed 101–90. At the end of the game, Carter was overheard clutching the game ball exclaiming "this is still my house."^[21]

Carter guided the Nets to an eighth-place seed in the 2005 NBA Playoffs.^[22] Although New Jersey was swept in the first round by the Miami Heat,^[23] Carter finished the series with averages of 26.8 points per game, 8.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists;^[14] highlighted by a buzzer-beating two-point fadeaway shot in the first overtime of Game 3 that forced a second overtime.^[24]

Carter returned to Toronto on January 8, 2006 for the third time since his trade to the New Jersey Nets, and was given the same treatment by the fans that he received the first time he played against the Raptors in the Air Canada Centre.^[25] With the Nets trailing 102–104, Carter hit the winning three-point shot with 0.1 seconds left on the game clock and finished with 42 points and 10 rebounds. Carter considers this winning shot as his greatest ever, considering the atmosphere, the emotion and the hostility in the arena.^[26]

In the 2005-06 NBA season, he co-led the Nets to 49 wins, an Atlantic Division title, and the number three seed in the playoffs, while averaging 24.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. He led the Nets to the second round of the playoffs before losing to the eventual NBA champions Miami Heat in five games. Carter averaged 29.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 11 playoff games.

On February 1, 2007, Carter was named, along with teammate Jason Kidd, as a reserve to the 2007 NBA All-Star Game, after losing out on a starting spot to Gilbert Arenas by 3,010 votes.^[27] Both Carter and Kidd made their eighth All-Star game appearance.^[28]

In a 120–114 overtime win over the Washington Wizards, April 7, 2007, Carter and Jason Kidd became the first teammates in over 18 years to record triple-doubles in the same game since the Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen achieved this feat against the Los Angeles Clippers in 1989. Carter finished with 46 points, a career-high 16 rebounds, and 10 assists. Kidd finished with 10 points, tied a career-high with 16 rebounds, and tied a season-high with 18 assists. Carter's triple double is the second highest total for a triple double, second only to Alvin Adams of the Phoenix Suns who tallied 47 points and 18 rebounds over 30 years ago.^[29]

After the Nets were eliminated from the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers (lost series 4-2), rumors of the Nets trading Carter again arose. After the New York Knicks and Nets discussed a trade around February of Carter (which was ended with the trading deadline), the two teams again revisted the subject. Carter, who opted out of his contract on June 30, reportedly wanted a three-year, $60 million deal however, which the Knicks are wary of. On July 1, 2007 Carter signed a 4-year $61.8 million contract with the Nets.^[30]

On January 24, 2008, the Nets played on the road against the Golden State Warriors. The game was broadcast on TNT, and at the half-time show, Magic Johnson claimed that Carter's game was on the decline due to chronic injuries to his knees.^[31] This was proven to be unfounded as Carter had hurt his ankle in an October game against the Boston Celtics which would hinder him throughout the 2007-2008 season. Hampered by injuries, Carter was not named as one of the reserves for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game.^[32] This marked the first time in his NBA career Carter was not named as an All-Star. Despite playing with an ankle injury, Carter finished the season strong with averages of 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists after the All-Star break. ^[33] He was one of only three NBA players, along with Lebron James and Kobe Bryant, to average at least 21 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the year. ^[34] Rod Thorn credited Carter for becoming a leader since the All-Star break, and said he believed that Carter could lead the Nets back to the playoffs the following year.^[35]

[edit] 2000 Summer Olympics

During the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Carter performed a memorable dunk when he flew over 7-foot-2 (2.18 m) French center Frédéric Weis. Carter stole the ball, sprinted, took off - legs spread in midair, and hit Weis's head as weis bent over to avoid the collision, before slamming the ball. Teammate Jason Kidd said it was "One of the best plays I've ever seen." The French media later dubbed it "le dunk de la mort" ("the Dunk of Death").^[36] "French Toast" also happens to be another nickname for this dunk. He helped the team to win the gold medal that year.

[edit] Awards and achievements

• 8-time NBA All-Star selection: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 (did not play in 2002 due to injury)
• 2-time All-NBA:
  • Second Team: 2001
  • Third Team: 2000
• NBA Slam Dunk Champion: 2000
• NBA All-Rookie First Team: 1999
• NBA Rookie of the Year Award: 1999
• The Sporting News NBA Rookie of the Year: 1999^[37]

[edit] NBA playoff records

• Co-holds NBA playoff record for most three-point field goals made in one game with 9 (May 11, 2001 vs. Philadelphia 76ers, Eastern Conference Semifinals)
• Holds NBA playoff record for most three-point field goals made in one half with 8 (same game as above)
• Holds NBA playoff record for most consecutive three-point field goals made in one game with 8 (same game as above)
• Holds NBA playoff record for most consecutive three-point field goals made in one half with 8 (same game as above)^[38]

[edit] New Jersey Nets franchise records

• Holds for most three-point field goals made in one game with 9 (December 11, 2006 vs. Memphis Grizzlies)
• Holds for most points scored in one season with 2,070 (2006-07)
• Holds for most consecutive 20 or more point games with 23 (2005-06).
• He is the first Net to score at least 2,000 points in a single season. (2006-07)^[39]

[edit] Toronto Raptors franchise records and milestones

• Holds for most career points scored with 9,420
• Holds for most points scored in one game with 51 (February 27, 2000 vs. Phoenix Suns)
• Co-holds for most points scored in one quarter with 20 (November 7, 2001 vs. Golden State Warriors)
• Co-holds for most field goals made in one game with 20 (January 14, 2000 vs. Milwaukee Bucks)
• Holds for most points scored in a playoff game with 50 (May 11, 2001 vs. Philadelphia 76ers, Eastern Conference Semifinals)
• Ranks 3rd for games played with 403
• Ranks 1st for games started with 401
• Ranks 1st for total points with 9,420
• Ranks 1st for total minutes with 15,154
• Ranks 2nd for three-pointers made with 554
• Ranks 2nd for three-pointers attempted with 1,445^[40]

[edit] Career highs

• Points – 51 (2 Times)
• Field Goals Made – 20 vs. Milwaukee 01/14/00
• Field Goals Attempted – 36 @ Philadelphia 01/21/01
• Three Point Field Goals Made – 9 vs. Memphis 12/11/06
• Three Point Field Goals Attempted – 20 vs. Memphis 12/11/06
• Free Throws Made – 23 @ Miami 12/23/05
• Free Throws Attempted – 27 @ Phoenix 12/30/00
• Offensive Rebounds – 8 vs. Chicago 11/05/05
• Defensive Rebounds – 13 (2 Times)
• Total Rebounds – 16 vs. Washington 04/07/07
• Assists – 13 @ Golden State 01/24/07
• Steals – 6 (2 Times)
• Blocks – 6 vs. Chicago 03/28/99
• Minutes Played – 63 vs. Sacramento 02/23/01^[14]

[edit] Nicknames

Carter is referred to by the nicknames "Vinsanity", "Half-Man, Half-Amazing", and his own initials "V.C." In his Toronto days, he was also referred to as "Air Canada". Raptors announcer Chuck Swirsky sometimes refers to him by his full name, "Vincent Lamar Carter".

[edit] Video game and TV appearances

• Carter appeared on a T-Mobile commercial, talking to his family on a cell phone to demonstrate the extra minutes. He also appeared in various commercials for Nike and Gatorade.
• Carter's penthouse is a stage in the video game NBA Ballers.
• Appeared on the cover of NBA Live 2004.^[41]
• Also appeared on the cover of NBA Inside Drive 2002.^[42]
• Carter is featured in the movie Like Mike.
• Carter also appears in Fabolous music video, This Is My Party.

[edit] In popular culture

Carter has been mentioned in many hip-hop/R&B songs over the course of his NBA career.

• 50 Cent – G-Unit Mixtape (Best of 50): "Watch me slam 'em down like Vince Carter".
• Avant – Six In Da Morning: "Hotter like Vince Carter from the Raptors".
• Busta Rhymes – We Put It Down For Y'all: "Let me bang something hard on your head like Vince Carter".
• Bow Wow – Basketball: "When Vince Carter came stuck his arm in the rim, Everbody went crazy in the whole damn gym".
• Chamillionaire – Freestyle: "Me and Lil Flip, flip harder than a hyperactive acrobat with hops like Vince Carter".
• Dr. Dre – Some L.A. Niggaz: "I bang through, like Vince Carter from the baseline, don't waste my time".
• Field Mob – Can't Stop Us: "The Vince Carter of rap, Shawn tall and brown skinned Dunkin' d**k in yo b***h with my arm in the rim".
• Foxy Brown – Gangsta Boogie: "Snatch back my lane I'm a Vince Carter this".
• The Game – For My Gangstaz: "Now watch the s**t elevate like Vince Carter".
• Hurricane Chris – Hand Clap: "Slam on a hater, like my name Vince Carter".
• Jurassic 5 – The Game: "Malicious, vicious dunks, I'm Vince Carter".
• Lil Flip – On Point: "Keep the crowd on their feet like Vince Carter wind mills".
• Lil Romeo – If I Try: "I could be the next Michael Jordan or Vince Carter".
• Lil Romeo – Stomped Out: "Like Vince Carter I'm Half Amazing".
• Master P – Basketball: "McGrady, Vince Carter are the very best".
• Master P – Roll How We Roll: "Made ESPN for slangin 3's at Vince Carter".
• Master P – Step To Dis: "Can I really hoop? Fool, ask Vince Carter".
• Onyx – Slam Harder: "Who slam harder? Onyx or Vince Carter?".

[edit] Off the court

• He has donated large amounts of money to his former high school, Mainland High School as well as to his foundation, The Embassy of Hope. On February 3, 2007, a statue of Vince Carter was unveiled at Mainland High School.^[43][44]
• Visited with the Duquesne University basketball team in Pittsburgh as a show of support after its shooting incident in September 2006.^[45]
• He sold his condo in Toronto to Toronto Blue Jays' pitcher A. J. Burnett for $2.8 million. He took a loss of $700k due to all the upgrades. It's a 10-room luxury condo with sweeping views of Lake Ontario and Toronto's skyline in an exclusive building on Queens Quay.^[46]
• He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. He has stated in interviews that many of the hand signals that he does on the court are a greeting to his Omega brothers around the world

• Carter is currently a resident of Saddle River, New Jersey. He joined a bowling league in Saddle River with former teammate Jason Kidd.^[47]

• Has one daughter, Kai Michelle Carter,^[48] born on June 1, 2005.^[7]

[edit] Physical statistics

• Height: 6'5.5" 197 cm ( w/o shoes), 6'6.75" 200 cm ( with shoes)
• Weight: 225
• Wingspan: 7'0"
• Vertical Leap: 43 inches^[49]

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Official Website
• Profile at NBA.com
• U.S. Olympic Team bio

v • d • e 2000 Olympic Champions Men's Basketball – United States Shareef Abdur-Rahim | Ray Allen | Vin Baker | Vince Carter | Kevin Garnett | Tim Hardaway | Allan Houston | Jason Kidd | Antonio McDyess | Alonzo Mourning | Gary Payton | Steve Smith | Coach: Rudy Tomjanovich