The Toronto Raptors are one of the newest NBA franchises, entering the league in the 1995-1996 season. Despite this, several iconic players like Tracy McGrady, Kawhi Leonard, Chris Bosh and Kyle Lowry have played for the Raptors. However, none have epitomized the spirit of the city quite like Vince Carter. And the NBA has decided to honor his legacy by inducting him into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Toronto Raptors put out a video to congratulate Vince Carter on his remarkable achievement. 23-year-old Canadian RJ Barrett made an appearance in the video to congratulate his childhood idol. Only Canadians of a certain generation can truly understand the profound impact that Carter had on the basketball landscape in Canada. And RJ Barrett is a part of that generation.

Vince Carter entered the NBA in 1998 at a time when basketball wasn’t the dominant sport in Canada. However, his electrifying playing style, breathtaking dunks, and undeniable charisma brought significant attention and excitement to the sport in the country. Vince Carter’s influence on children growing up in the late 1990s and early 2000s is unquestionable. Many of today’s Canadian basketball stars, including Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and RJ Barrett, consider Carter as their childhood idol.

During an interview with ESPN in 2019, RJ Barrett described the impact that Vince Carter had on him. He said, “Vince and Tracy McGrady, they more inspired us taller, long, athletic guys. OK, (Carter) is one of the best players in the league. ‘Why can’t I be that too? While Vince Carter has achieved legendary status in Canada, his career has seen him play for various teams across the NBA.

Vince Carter’s remarkable NBA career

Vince Carter remains one of the most iconic NBA players of all-time. He entered the league in 1998 when the Warriors drafted him with the 5th pick. However, they decided to trade him to the Toronto Raptors. In his very first season, Carter averaged 18.3 points, 3 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. Vince Carter achieved All-Star status in only his second NBA season, posting impressive averages of 25.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.

Carter had several iconic moments throughout his career, but his legendary 2000 dunk contest performance ranks as the most iconic. Many felt that the Dunk Contest was on its last legs after years of inspiring performances. However, Carter’s incredible performance quite literally saved the dunk contest. With jaw-dropping dunks like the “Elbow Dunk” and “360 Windmill,” Carter captivated audiences and solidified his status as one of the greatest dunkers in NBA history.

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Vince Carter remained with the Raptors for 7 seasons. However, he left the franchise in acrimonious fashion, which created a hostile environment whenever he returned to Toronto. While he enjoyed superstardom, Vince became more of a journeyman in the latter stages of his career. Over his illustrious NBA career, Carter played for several teams like the Nets, Mavs, Magic and Grizzlies. He played in a record 22 NBA seasons and scored over 25,000 points.

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