In a time when the NBA seemed to be running low on excitement and star power, Vince Carter came onto the scene like a breath of fresh air, reigniting the interest of fans worldwide.
The end of the 1997-1998 season marked the end of an era for the NBA. Michael Jordan retired, and the great Chicago Bulls team disbanded, taking away the league’s biggest attractions from the ’90s. With the impending lockout that ultimately lasted about seven months, nobody knew what to expect next.
With Jordan’s generation heading towards retirement, and the next generation (Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady) not yet fully established, the NBA seemed to lack a strong appeal for its fans. Fortunately, the 1998 draft brought in a player everyone would be eager to watch over the next few years.
Those who followed NCAA basketball and especially North Carolina, knew Vince Carter was synonymous with excitement. For those who didn’t catch on, the final episode of NBA Action in 1998 showcased some of his incredible dunks, giving fans something to look forward to for the next season. The draft became even more exciting as fans waited to see which team Carter would play for (the Golden State Warriors picked him at number 5 and traded him to the Toronto Raptors for his college teammate Antawn Jamison, who was picked at number 4). When the new season finally began, everyone was eager to see Carter’s amazing dunks.
With the regular season shortened to 50 games, starting in February 1999, and without the Bulls and Jordan stealing the spotlight, the focus shifted. Fans wanted to see Carter shine in the NBA Action Top 10, where he became a regular feature. His dunks and the flashy plays of Jason Williams from the Sacramento Kings were the highlights of the season. In fact, Carter’s amazing reverse dunk against the Indiana Pacers was the top play of 1999. Besides his highlight-reel plays, his stats were impressive: 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game earned him the Rookie of the Year award unanimously.
By 2000, Carter’s popularity skyrocketed. He wasn’t just the most exciting player in the NBA, he was one of the league’s best. Averaging 25.7 points (fourth in the NBA), 5.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks, he led the Raptors (45-37) to their first playoff appearance. For a team that joined the NBA in the 1995/1996 season, making the playoffs in just five years was a big deal. Air Canada (Carter’s nickname due to his incredible leaping ability) delivered many wins with stunning performances.
In a 103-102 win over the Phoenix Suns, he scored a career-high 51 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and made 3 steals. Against the Milwaukee Bucks, he scored 47 points in a 115-110 win. He had 39 points in a 98-92 victory over the San Antonio Spurs and 37 points, including the game-winner, in a 100-98 win against the Houston Rockets. His buzzer-beaters also secured wins against the Celtics (96-94, 28 points) and the Clippers (95-94, 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists). His dunks became even more spectacular, often appearing multiple times in the NBA Action Top 10 each week.
Carter’s incredible performances were the perfect reason for the NBA to bring back the dunk contest for the All-Star Weekend. The return of the contest, due to public demand for Carter, was highly anticipated. Before his arrival, the dunk contest had lost its appeal and was discontinued for a year. The excitement was so high that NBA superstars grabbed front-row seats at the Oakland Arena (home of the Warriors back then) with video cameras to capture Carter’s unforgettable show. Each of his dunks exceeded expectations, sending the crowd into a frenzy every time.
Even the judges couldn’t hide their admiration for Vince Carter. At one point, Isiah Thomas left the judges’ table to congratulate him and bow to his greatness. It was wild, even the other contestants were cheering after each of his dunks. Tracy McGrady (Carter’s Raptors teammate) and Steve Francis of the Rockets (co-Rookie of the Year with Elton Brand in 2000) gave it their all and would have easily won if Carter hadn’t been in the contest. As T-Mac admitted, they knew from the start who the winner would be and just tried to make it somewhat competitive.
Carter made his first All-Star appearance, topping the fan vote for the Eastern and Western Conference starters with 1,911,973 votes. He repeated this feat in 2001 and 2002. The 2000-2001 season was the pinnacle of his career. He averaged 27.6 points per game (5th in the NBA) along with 5.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks, leading the Raptors to a 47-35 record, good for fifth place in the East. In the playoffs, they avenged their previous season’s sweep by the New York Knicks.
While his dunks were still jaw-dropping, Carter started focusing more on substance over style. He improved his shooting, including long-range shots, and relied more on his technical skills than just his athleticism. He had several standout games that season, including a 48-point game with 10 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks against the Bucks (Toronto won 111-102), a 45-point game in a 99-98 victory over the Pacers, and a 40-point game with 6 of 10 three-pointers against the Charlotte Hornets (Toronto won 107-99). He also had 39 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals in an overtime win against the 76ers, 34 points with 5 of 8 three-pointers against the Wizards, and 33 points with 6 of 11 three-pointers against the Bulls.
In the playoffs, the Knicks managed to hold Carter to 22.8 points per game, but the Raptors eliminated them 3-2. In the second round, Carter and regular-season MVP Allen Iverson had an unforgettable duel that the NBA needed. Carter scored 35 points with 7 assists in a 96-93 win in Game 1 in Philadelphia. Iverson responded with 54 points to tie the series 97-92 in Game 2. Carter then scored 50 points in Game 3, tying the then playoff record for three-pointers with 9 of 13 as Toronto won 102-78.
The Sixers evened the series at 2-2 with an 84-79 win and took the lead with a 121-88 win in Game 5 thanks to Iverson’s 52 points (8 of 14 from three). Carter bounced back with 39 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals in a 101-89 win to force Game 7. Unfortunately, he missed a potential game-winner, and the Raptors lost 88-87. Despite this, Carter’s future looked bright, and he signed a six-year, $95 million contract extension. Little did anyone know that he had already played his best basketball.
The Raptors struggled to build a strong team around Carter, and a serious knee injury in March 2002 derailed their plans for a lasting impact in the East. Carter missed the rest of the season and the playoffs, and he played only 43 games the following year. After the 2003-2004 season, the Raptors decided to rebuild, leading Carter to request a trade. His request was granted in December 2004, and he was traded to the New Jersey Nets, where he found his groove again.
While his career didn’t unfold as many expected after his first three years, Carter still played a unique and crucial role in NBA history and this is a big reason why he is in the Hall of Fame. During a time when the league needed a new direction and was searching for a way to engage fans, Carter’s electrifying dunks, dubbed Vinsanity, kept millions of fans around the world hooked on the game.
