Masai Ujiri praises Vince Carter’s impact, keeps plans to honour him next season a secret

The Toronto Raptors organization has been one of the most tight-lipped franchises, opting to stay away from spreading rumours or divulging information to insiders.

That secretive trait usually is mostly put to use when it comes to trades or free agency decisions hitting the rumours mill.

However, on Wednesday, the team opted for a taciturn approach to something a little different, choosing to stay quiet on how they intend to honour imminent Hall-of-Famer and franchise icon Vince Carter.

At Masai Ujiri’s end-of-year press conference, he was asked about whether the team has plans to pay tribute to Carter, arguably the franchise’s first superstar.

“It’s a secret,” the Raptors’ president said through a sly smile and a slight laugh.

Carter is set to be inducted as part of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s class of 2024, headlining a list featuring players like Chauncey Billups and Seimone Augustus.

His induction has reignited discourse about his impact on not only the Raptors but on Canadian basketball as a whole, with the high-flying superstar taking the game to new heights in the country.

However, it wasn’t without its own set of controversies, as Carter’s departure from the team ignited a polarizing debate around whether or not he should be honoured by the city.

Ujri chose to look more at the bright side of Carter’s tenure ahead of the Hall of Fame ceremony later this year.

“Love him, he’s the best,” Ujri said on Wednesday. “Everything, just like we’re going through here, has ups and downs. … I think what Vince has done as a player, not only the length of his career but how he’s carried himself, maturity.

“I didn’t know too much about what went on here, but I know everybody is moving on and I hope the fans can and we can embrace an unbelievable player that really set a tone and set a pathway for all of us to be where we are today.”

Many have speculated as to the ways Carter could be honoured by the team, including whether he could be the first number hanging in the rafters or if he deserves a statue outside Scotiabank Arena. None of that information came to light on Wednesday, but it seems something is brewing potentially for next season.

When Carter showed up in Toronto near the end of his career, what once were boos became cheers, jerseys with his name and number defaced were repaired and worn with honour, and short “thank you” video tributes turned into long ceremonies for a legacy everlasting in the city.

What his next reception in Toronto could entail is still under wraps, but it seems clear that Ujiri thinks the city should be ready for it once and for all.

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