Emotional Carter acknowledges contentious exit from Toronto as Raptors retire former star's jersey

TORONTO -- An affectional Vince Carter acknowledged his contentious exit from Toronto arsenic his No. 15 jersey became nan first number retired by nan Raptors successful a halftime ceremonial during Saturday’s crippled against Sacramento.

“It’s not conscionable Carter 15 going up, it’s each of america going up,” Carter told fans earlier a banner pinch his sanction and number was lifted to nan rafters. “The memories, nevertheless you position it, goes up tonight. I dream and believe we bask our jersey being retired everlastingly together.”

Carter walked to halfway tribunal to statesman nan ceremonial and gestured pinch his hands to petition cheers from nan crowd, and past balled his fists and roared “Come on!” earlier saluting nan response.

Former Toronto teammates Tracy McGrady, Antonio Davis, Kevin Willis, Charles Oakley, Morris Peterson, Dee Brown, Jerome Williams, Alvin Williams and Muggsy Bogues joined Carter, his family and Raptors president Masai Ujiri connected nan tribunal for nan ceremony.

“He taught america really to fly,” Ujiri said successful introducing Carter to nan cheering crowd.

Carter had to region respective times to power his emotions aliases dab astatine tears during a pregame property conference. At 1 point, speaking astir his family, a tearful Carter beckoned his young boy Vincent Jr. to subordinate him astatine nan podium for an embrace.

The only subordinate successful NBA history to play successful 4 decades, Carter spent nan first six-plus of his grounds 22 seasons pinch nan Raptors. He was nan 1999 Rookie of nan Year successful his first play and an All-Star and nan Slam Dunk champion successful his second, erstwhile Toronto made nan playoffs for nan first time.

Swept retired of nan first information by nan Knicks successful his first postseason, Carter and nan Raptors returned to nan playoffs nan pursuing outpouring and upset New York by winning Game 5 astatine Madison Square Garden.

Before Saturday’s game, Carter recalled that bid triumph arsenic 1 of nan champion memories of his clip successful Toronto.

“Going done what (former Knicks coach) Mr. Jeff Van Gundy put maine done pinch his defense, I was excited to person that opportunity to spell against that defense again,” Carter said.

Carter is credited for impacting hoops crossed Canada, influencing a procreation of early NBA players specified arsenic Tristan Thompson, erstwhile Raptors defender Cory Joseph and existent Raptors guardant Kelly Olynyk.

“The bequest is still growing,” Carter said. “This is nan icing connected nan cake.”

Thompson was 1 of respective players, including Stephen Curry and erstwhile Raptors Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, to grounds a congratulatory connection for Carter successful a video that played earlier nan on-court ceremony.

“I wouldn’t beryllium present without you,” Thompson said.

Early connected successful his Toronto tenure, Carter earned nan nickname “Air Canada” for his high-flying dunks. As injuries mounted and his accumulation declined, Carter faced disapproval from fans for becoming little fierce erstwhile he settled for jumpers alternatively than driving and drafting contact.

In December 2004, Carter was traded to nan Nets for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and a brace of first-round draught picks. Mourning ne'er played for Toronto.

For years, location was anger and animosity from Raptors fans toward Carter aft he pushed to beryllium traded retired of Toronto.

A decade connected from that deal, nan relationship-mending began erstwhile Carter visited Toronto pinch nan Memphis Grizzlies connected Nov. 19, 2014. The Raptors, who were celebrating their 20th day that season, honored Carter pinch a tribute video during a first-quarter timeout.

Speaking successful nan halftime ceremony, Carter called it “a time I’ll ne'er forget.”

Although a fewer fans booed arsenic nan montage began that night, astir of nan sellout crowd of 19,800 soon stood and cheered. An affectional Carter raised his arms, tapped his bosom and wiped tears from his eyes.

During his pregame property convention Carter was flooded pinch emotion again arsenic he recalled watching that video almost a decade ago.

“It’s thing astir seeing those highlights successful this building, because that’s wherever it was created,” he said.

Carter retired successful 2020 astatine property 43. Last month, he was inducted into nan Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Earlier Saturday, a mural of Carter was unveiled successful downtown Toronto. In September, nan Raptors unveiled a revitalized Vince Carter Court astatine a Toronto park.

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