What is your favourite moment of Vince Carter's career?
Scott Rafferty ( @crabdribbles ): Probably when Vince Carter played against the Raptors on Nov. 21, 2008.
Not only did he get into a shootout with Chris Bosh, scoring 39 points to his 42, but Carter also had two insanely clutch plays. The first came in regulation when he tied the game up with a tough 3-pointer over Anthony Parker. The second came in overtime when he sealed the deal with a reverse alley-oop from Bobby Simmons.
I'll never forget Carter's reaction to both of those plays.
Gilbert McGregor ( @GMcGregor21 ): Vince Carter shutting down the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest.
Vince's legendary dunk contest performance is legitimately one of the first-ever vivid memories I have as a basketball fan. I was five years old, yet I remember the buzz surrounding the contest's return after the lockout of 1998 resulted in there being no All-Star Weekend in 1999.
While I didn't really know what to expect, Vince somehow managed to exceed my young expectations along with those of nearly every other spectator. The 360 windmill and the arm-in-the-rim tomahawk stand out, but my favourite will always be when Vince went between the legs to dunk off a bounced lob from Tracy McGrady before pointing to the Oakland Arena rafters.
I would celebrate any and everything like that for weeks.
Carter put on a show that will never be matched nor replicated in the dunk contest. Ever. I'm just glad I was able to witness it live.
Micah Adams ( @MicahAdams13 ): One name: Frederic Weis.
The dunk over Weis in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney is the greatest in-game dunk by the greatest in-game dunker at the absolute peak of his powers. The 2000 Slam Dunk Contest was a spectacle for sure, but when Carter steals that pass against France, nobody could have predicted what happened next.
Perhaps the best part of it all? The reactions by Kevin Garnett and Vin Baker. Garnett's more hyped than ever — an incredible feat given he's among the most intense players we've ever seen — while Baker can't quite believe what just happened.
Whenever I think of Vince Carter, this is what comes to mind.
James McKern ( @jLmcKern ): Rookie Vince climbing over the top of Mutombo in 1999
It may not be as well-remembered as the dunk contest or the Olympics, but when you dunk on one of the game's best-ever shot blockers, it's an incredible moment.
When you do it as a rookie, it's legendary.
Rookie Vince drove baseline around Atlanta's Chris Crawford as Mutombo slid across the lane. He then launched up and over the top of the Hawks' shot-blocker as he threw down the thunderous jam.
Incredible.
Benyam Kidane (@ BenyamKidane ): Carter dropping 50 on Allen Iverson and the Sixers in Game 3 of the 2001 playoffs
Nothing screams "the 2000s" more than an Allen Iverson vs. Vince Carter duel!
After the 76ers and Raptors split the first two close games, Carter went Super Saiyan in Game 3, dropping 50 points to lead the Raptors to a 102-78 win and a 2-1 series lead.
Carter was in his bag, getting anything he wanted and seemingly shooting the ball like he was throwing a tennis ball into the ocean. He hit a then-NBA playoff-record nine 3-pointers on just 13 attempts and shot 65 percent from the field. Dude just couldn't miss.
Allen Iverson was and still is my favourite basketball player, so Vince played the perfect villain.
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