Vince Carter’s unwavering support for the Toronto Raptors was on full show as he was selected a finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2024 class. During an appearance on the NBA show “Run it Back,” he was asked which jersey he would wear into the Hall of Fame, to which he quickly replied, “Toronto, Toronto, Toronto.” It must be. It”s where it all started.”
While players do not have the choice of selecting a specific team for representation in the Basketball Hall of Fame, as they do in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Carter’s reaction provoked interesting discussion, particularly among NBA Twitter users and Raptors fans.
The idea of retiring Carter’s iconic number 15 jersey and raising it to the rafters at Scotiabank Arena is gaining steam, acknowledging his huge impact with the Raptors. Carter acknowledges that Toronto is where he gained confidence and charted the trajectory of his career.
Carter had exceptional success with the Raptors in his early years, winning the Rookie of the Year title in 1998-99 and being named to five All-Star teams in his first six seasons. His amazing feat in the 2000 Slam Dunk competition cemented his place in basketball lore.
Despite his clear contributions to the franchise, Carter’s time with the Raptors was not without criticism. Some criticize him for his departure from Toronto, claiming that he negotiated a trade to the New Jersey Nets during the 2004-05 season while still at the pinnacle of his career.
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