Vince Carter 's basketball journey has been a long and winding one, filled with ups and downs. He went from being the man who helped bring the Toronto Raptors to the forefront of the NBA with his electrifying play in the "Great White North" to being vilified for his departure from the franchise. Along the way, he picked up numerous accolades, including being named an All-Star eight times and a member of the All-NBA Team twice.
However, VC recently showed that nothing means more to him than the praise coming from his children. In an interview with NBA TV's Dennis Scott, "Half Man, Half Amazing" was reduced to tears when he shared what his seven-year-old son told him on the car ride to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony in Springfield, Massachusetts.
VC's family was ready for the moment
The 6'6", high-flying wingman played 22 seasons in the NBA, which meant he spent plenty of time away from his family, especially his young kids. During the enshrinement weekend, Carter made sure to have his loved ones with him as he went on stage to receive his Hall of Fame jacket. According to the former North Carolina Tar Heel, his youngest child couldn't wait to share the moment with his father.
"Let me tell you something, man, my youngest, the four-year-old, the entire night, all she asked me was, 'When we going on stage? When we going on stage?' So she was ready for the moment," Vince told D.Scott.
However, what "Air Canada's" seven-year-old son shared with him brought the iconic Raptor to tears.
"In the car coming over here, my kid said, 'Dad...you went from an All-Star to a Hall of Famer. He's seven, man. Seven. It's crazy,'" Carter said, tears welling in his eyes.
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At peace with his career
In June 2020, "Vinsanity" announced he was hanging his sneakers up for good after an illustrious career spanning over two decades. He joined a long list of NBA legends who walked away from the NBA without winning a single championship. This list includes Karl Malone, John Stockton, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, and many more.
Despite never hoisting the coveted Larry O'Brien trophy, Vince said he was proud of how his career played out.
"A championship is great. I mean, there's champions here tonight, but I'll take 22 years at 43 any day," VC declared.
While Carter coveted an NBA title, it wasn't what drove him to play year after year despite already getting up in age. He shared that his sheer love for the sport kept him going.
"Obviously, as a go-to guy for so many years, I had to transition to a role player. But the love didn't change. The desire to still put the work in. I hit 40, the love didn't change. The desire didn't change. Year 22, at 43 years old, it was the same thing. I still felt I could contribute. I still felt I had something to give to the game. And I couldn't see myself just sitting there," Carter said.
Although an NBA title would have been the cherry on top of VC's incredible career, his impact and longevity testify to his talent and passion for the game. As he continues to write his legacy off the court, it's clear that Vince will always be remembered as one of the greatest players of his generation.
Related: "That was sick. That's just nasty" – Tracy McGrady loved a crazy reverse slam Vince Carter did on the Indiana Pacers
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