Vince Carter
Set against Carolina-blue skies with the warm Florida sun shining in the distance, Vince Carter’s maiden flight as Air Canada was officially cleared for takeoff on February 5, 1999. The strike-shortened NBA season would result in Rookie of the Year honors for the fifth overall pick of the 1998 Draft. In those early years, Carter played the game above the rim, winning the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk contest while later leap-frogging defenders on his way to Olympic gold the same year. He was fearless, powerful, and innovative. His in-game dunks electrified fans of the Toronto Raptors and sent Canada into a basketball frenzy. The eight-time All-Star played 22 seasons in the NBA to become the only player to appear in four different decades. Carter’s career included stops in eight NBA cities, 1,541 games, 25,728 points, 6,606 rebounds, 4,714 assists, and 2,290 three-point field goals, proof that he was more than just a sensational dunker. His game evolved over the years from skyrocketing superstar to first-off-the-bench role player to glue guy to legend.
