Vince Carter announced his retirement from the NBA on Thursday.
The Atlanta Hawks released a statement on Carter’s decision.
“For the past two years, Vince Carter has been a committed leader, a respected mentor, and an influential example on the court, in the locker room, and in the Atlanta community,” the Hawks said.
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Throughout his historic 22-year journey spanning four unprecedented different decades, his evolving career arc was perhaps unlike any other in league history: from the Top 5 Draft Pick to the Rookie of the Year, Slam Dunk Champion, superstar and eight-time Twyman-Stokes All-Star, teammate of the year and valued role player – an honor for the Hawks organization to have completed their Hall of Fame career with Atlanta on the chest and representing our city. “
Carter added on the “Winging It” podcast: “I have officially finished playing basketball professionally.”
A statement from any of the several teams Carter played for during his long basketball career will probably not do him justice.
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Carter entered the league with the Toronto Raptors during the 1998-99 season. He received his first All-Star pick in his second season in the league and made his presence known during the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest when he surprised fans with dazzling takedowns.
His time with the Raptors did not last long and he was traded to the New Jersey Nets during the 2004-05 season. Eventually he would play for the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and finally with the Hawks.
Carter’s tenure with the Hawks came to an abrupt end when the NBA announced that it would halt the season due to the coronavirus pandemic. His last game was against the New York Knicks and he hit a triple, which would eventually be his last shot in his professional career.
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“It’s one of those moments, people, if you think of a winning shot, you think sometimes you want to throw the ball and make it perfect,” he told The Ringer in April. “You want to have the perfect shape, the perfect arch, the perfect follow-up, all nine complete. I’ve always been a guy I believe in, I’ve relied on all the work (I’ve put it in) and hadn’t been shooting the ball well in my opinion all year, but when it came to a shot, I needed to do, it was like second nature and had done it before. Then bring [Young] throw the ball, I take a step two and just throw it as if I had been playing the whole game.
“It is giving me chills right now, actually. It was a chilling moment to see him enter. Because at the beginning it was fine, the season is going to [come] back. But at the same time, I thought, in case you don’t, you might want to try doing this. “
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Carter could be one of the best players to ever win a title. He ended his career averaging 16.7 points per game. He was the 1998-99 Rookie of the Year, twice the NBA’s first player and eight times the All-Star.
