Carrying the torch to be the next Michael Jordan? Over the years, we have had several players as the next MJ. Honestly, nobody even came close to replicating the legacy. Just like any player, it was difficult for Vince Carter to stay away from the comparison. Being from North Carolina, it only increased those murmurs. But there was one thing or one name that helped relieve some pressure for the Toronto Raptors legend. And no, it wasn’t any NBA star who helped.

Vince Carter was at the 2025 Fanatics Fest and dropped by Dwyane Wade’s live podcast recording with D’Angelo Russell. That’s when the Heat legend asked, “Hey Vince, let’s get right to it. The one of the coolest nicknames ever in our sport. Half man-Half amazing. How did you feel when they gave you that? How did you feel about that?” His performance at the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest is rightly regarded as perhaps the greatest in history. Plus, his swagger while delivering those dunks justified the nickname.

“I didn’t know how to feel about it because, you know, as a young guy coming in the league, you just trying to make your mark and you trying to do your thing.” The 8x All-Star continued, “So, you start hearing stuff like that. I was like, ‘All right.’ At first, it’s like, ‘All right, let me let me break this. Half man, half amazing. Oh, that’s cold!” But that name also helped Vince Carter break the mold of being the next Michael Jordan.

“So at the same time I was like just go be me cuz like you know there’s there’s this one name and you know about it too and well all of y’all know it. It’s like when they say, ‘he’s somewhat like MJ.’ I don’t want no problem.” When Carter began his spell with the University of Carolina, Michael Jordan was beginning his tenure for the second three-peat. Before completing his first year with the Carolina Blue, the Raptors legend had already been compared to MJ. But he never wanted those.

“I don’t want no problem. I want to be me. So that came about. It’s like, ‘All right, this is going to be my own lane. Just keep doing what you doing.’ And here we are.” Instead of the title of the ‘next Michael Jordan’, Carter found solace in being the ‘Half-man, Half-amazing’. And throughout his 22 seasons, even fans got a glimpse of it on a nightly basis.

One time, when Vince Carter overshadowed Michael Jordan

Sharing the floor with his idol was a dream come true for Carter, a self-proclaimed fan of the Chicago Bulls icon growing up. Vince Carter, by 2003, had established himself as one of the brightest talents in the NBA, therefore earning his third straight All-Star Game appearance. The then-Raptors star not only got the votes, but was one of only 3 players to get more than 1,300,000 votes. The other two are Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. Despite having the higher votes than Michael Jordan (1,082,909), Carter gave up his starting spot. Why?

“I was the leading vote-getter, and I gave my starting position to MJ, which he declined multiple times throughout the day. So, we go on, and he accepts the starting position; he goes on and hits his historic fadeaway.” That year, the 2003 NBA All-Star game went off in Atlanta, ensuring the Bulls legend got the spotlight he deserved in his 14th and final All-Star appearance. Carter gave up his spot with zero regrets and even had to give an ultimatum.

It was also revealed by Air Canada that Jordan was not very keen at first to take the starter spot, stating that Carter had earned it. But ultimately, the 7x All-Star convinced the 6x NBA champion to take it by saying that if Jordan doesn’t take the spot, he won’t come out to play. That ultimately swayed MJ’s decision, and fans got to witness the Bulls legend starting in an All-Star game for the final time. From being worried about living in the shadow of MJ, Carter went on to give his spotlight to His Airness. Truly a full circle moment for the Hall of Famer.