The player known as "Half Man, Half Amazing" is now completely retired.
After 22 NBA seasons, Vince Carter is calling it a career. The decision didn't come as a surprise, but the future Hall of Famer finally made it official on The Ringer's "Winging It" podcast.
"I am officially done playing basketball professionally," Carter told "Winging It" host Annie Finberg.
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Carter played for eight teams over the course of his career and finished with 25,728 points, good for 19th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. He drained one final 3-pointer in the closing seconds of a Hawks loss on March 11, the last day of NBA games before play was suspended following Rudy Gobert's positive coronavirus (COVID-19) test.
With the NBA season suspended until further notice, Vince Carter checks in and drills a three in the final seconds. pic.twitter.com/XLW1t7uIjW
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 12, 2020
As he aged out of his prime, Carter smoothly transitioned into a role player and reliable outside threat, but he will always be remembered for the jaw-dropping dunks he finished as a member of the Raptors and Nets. He has a strong case as the best pure dunker in basketball history, and any arguments about his status should start with the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
That night was actually less of a contest and more of a Carter showcase. He sent the crowd into a frenzy with his first dunk and continued to leave players and media members alike stunned by his blend of athleticism and grace on his way to victory.
Now that Carter has left the game for good, why not rank those incredible slams?
5. The two-handed slam dunk from just inside the free throw line (Score: 48)
For his final dunk of the night, Carter opted to play it safe and go with a basic throwdown in order to secure the trophy.
Oh, basic for him is a two-handed dunk after taking off roughly 12 feet from the rim. You know, that old thing.
4. The behind-the-backboard windmill slam dunk (Score: 49)
Carter did a better version of this dunk on his first attempt (more on that later), but oh boy, this one is clean.
All of Carter's momentum is taking him away from the basket, and yet he still rocket launches the ball through the bottom of the net. It's also worth noting he only had a quick one-two step available because of the tight spacing along the baseline.
He deserved a perfect score of 50, but Kenny Smith gave the lone 9 in the bunch. How could you do that to a fellow Tar Heel, Kenny?
3. The off-the-bounce, between-the-legs slam dunk (Score: 50)
OK, the placement here might seem controversial because the "it's over" moment is an all-timer. Let's be honest: There are no wrong answers when you're picking from a set of 50s.
This is perhaps the most photogenic jam in Slam Dunk Contest history. Carter's eyes at the rim, his legs split to allow the ball to pass under the bridge, Tracy McGrady walking right the hell out of the way to let Carter fill the frame — it could be a painting on a sophisticated French man's wall.
Well, maybe not Frederic Weis' wall.
2. The "Do you realize my entire forearm is inside the basket?" slam dunk (Score: 50)
Seriously, what human being considers this dunk, let alone has the leaping ability to pull it off?
The forearm finish was so innovative many fans couldn't comprehend what they had witnessed. Michael Keaton's face is perfect.
Celebrating #BatmanDay with Michael Keaton’s reaction to Vince Carter’s elbow dunk. pic.twitter.com/TYt73FWzm1
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) September 21, 2019
"I was quiet. I couldn't believe I just saw that," fellow Slam Dunk Contest participant Steve Francis told ESPN's Jason Buckland. "I don't think anybody in the arena knew what to think when that happened."
It's extremely difficult to impress fans who have seen almost every kind of dunk. It's even more challenging to completely stun them.
Carter did both.
1. The 360 windmill slam dunk (Score: 50)
"Vinsanity" explained in one dunk.
All of the elements are present on Carter's first attempt of the evening. He has the buildup before he hits the trampoline. Then the explosion and vertical leap on full display.
"As I took that first dribble, and if you watch it on the second dribble I smacked the ball real hard and that's when I felt like I powered up, you know, like Mario Bros.," Carter told Buckland. "And I just felt like I gained two, three inches [when I jumped]. When I took off and turned around, the rim was right here [at eye level]."
He caps it off with ferocity, hurling the ball down into the net and causing a perfect splash. He bounces up and down when he returns to solid ground because the core of the planet cannot handle a normal two-footed landing from this guy.
"Let's go home! Let's go home, ladies and gentleman!"
Enough said.
