Vince Carter shares why he is satisfied with how he retired from the NBA: "I was able to walk away because I wanted to"

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Vince Carter is one of the most accomplished and beloved players of the 21st century. He was a superstar for the Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets but was present in the NBA for a huge chunk of time from 1999 to 2020. Matt Barnes has even said that Carter was the most gifted player ever, which was a massive compliment.

While he faced many injuries in his career, Vince still had a superb time as a professional. He consistently contributed to multiple teams, gradually becoming a role player as he grew older. Those injuries didn’t force him to retire, as Vince stepped away from the NBA without issues.

“In my mind, I wanted to play 14/15 years because one of the greatest players to ever lace ‘em up, Michael Jordan, did that. If I can play 14/15 years, I’m doing okay. But after 14/15 years, I could keep going,” Vince said on his The VC Show. “I took the challenge regardless of the role that I had. I wanted to take the challenge of still being able to play the game that I love for as long as I can. I was able to walk anyway because I wanted to, not because I had to.”

Vince deserves flowers for his career

By playing 20+ years in the NBA, Vince impacted multiple generations of basketball players and fans. He was the highlight reel dunker in the first few years and even became the superstar to pair with Jason Kidd in New Jersey.

As he got older, Carter became a crafty and reliable veteran for multiple teams around the league. He was a superb mentor for all kinds of players, as he used his experience to teach them the best way to play the game.

Vince is now getting inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, which would make him part of a unique group. It is one of the most significant achievements a player can earn in basketball, confirming he’s a bonafide legend across multiple teams.

Despite his fewer contributions later on, people won’t forget how good Carter was in his first few seasons north of the border. Vince scored 23.8 points per game during his time with the Raptors, even becoming a more well-rounded player with contributions every year.

Vince got the proper sendoff he wanted

Older players could not retire properly, as they were forced out due to an injury. For a player who suffered plenty of ailments, Vince ending his career on his terms was a good sign that he had a fantastic 22-year career. Everyone wanted Carter to succeed, but he could not win a championship.

It was a tough time for a wing player like Carter because he was smack dab in the middle of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James’ eras. The sendoff became even more significant as Vince earned a place in the 2024 edition of the Hall of Fame. It’s proof that Carter could still be considered a legendary player despite not winning the most accolades possible.