Vince Carter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Vince Carter

Carter in 2013
Personal information
Born	(1977-01-26) January 26, 1977 (age 48) Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
High school	Mainland (Daytona Beach, Florida)
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
College	North Carolina (1995–1998)
NBA Draft	1998 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5th overall
Selected by the Golden State Warriors
Pro career	1998–2020
Career history
1998–2004	Toronto Raptors
2004–2009	New Jersey Nets
2009–2010	Orlando Magic
2010–2011	Phoenix Suns
2011–2014	Dallas Mavericks
2014–2017	Memphis Grizzlies
2017–2018	Sacramento Kings
2018–2020	Atlanta Hawks
Career highlights and awards
8× NBA All-Star (2000–2007) All-NBA Second Team (2001) All-NBA Third Team (2000) NBA Rookie of the Year (1999) NBA All-Rookie First Team (1999) NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (2000) NBA Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award (2016) NBA Sportsmanship Award (2020) Consensus second-team All-American (1998) First-team All-ACC (1998) Third-team All-ACC (1997) No. 15 honored by North Carolina Tar Heels No. 15 retired by Toronto Raptors No. 15 retired by Brooklyn Nets First-team Parade All-American (1995) McDonald's All-American (1995) Florida Mr. Basketball (1995)
Career statistics
Points	25,728 (16.7 ppg)
Rebounds	6,606 (4.3 rpg)
Assists	4,714 (3.1 apg)
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2000 Sydney Team Competition FIBA Americas Championship Gold 2003 San Juan Team Competition

Vincent Lamar Carter Jr. (born January 26, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for 22 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). This is a record for the most seasons played in the league. He is also the only player to play in the NBA across four different decades.

Vince Carter was known for his amazing jumping ability and powerful slam dunks. Fans gave him nicknames like "Vinsanity", "Air Canada", and "Half Man, Half Amazing". Many players and journalists consider him the greatest dunker of all time. His famous "Dunk of Death" at the 2000 Summer Olympics is still talked about today. Besides dunking, Carter was also a great three-point shooter. He made the ninth most three-point shots in NBA history. In 2024, Carter was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Vince Carter was born in Daytona Beach, Florida. He went to Mainland High School in Daytona Beach. He played football as a quarterback at first. But a broken wrist made him switch to volleyball. In volleyball, he was named the best player in Volusia County. He also had a scholarship offer to play the saxophone in college!

Carter led his high school basketball team to its first state championship in 56 years. He was a McDonald's All-American in 1995. This means he was one of the best high school players in the country. Many colleges wanted him, but he chose to play for North Carolina.

College Basketball Journey

Carter played college basketball for three years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He played for famous coaches Dean Smith and Bill Guthridge. During his second and third years, he helped North Carolina reach the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament twice.

In his junior year (1997–98), he averaged 15.6 points per game. He was named a second-team All-American. In May 1998, Carter decided to leave college early to join the NBA draft. He later went back to college during his NBA career. He graduated in August 2000 with a degree in African-American studies.

Professional Basketball Career

Toronto Raptors: Becoming "Air Canada"

Vince Carter was picked fifth overall in the 1998 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors. But he was quickly traded to the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors were a new team and had struggled. Carter helped them reach the playoffs for the first time in 2000. He then led them to their first playoff series win in 2001.

Because of an NBA lockout, Carter's first season started in January 1999. He quickly became a fan favorite. His amazing dunks earned him the nickname "Air Canada". He won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1999. He averaged 18.3 points per game.

In his second season, Carter became a huge star. He averaged 25.7 points per game. He was chosen for his first NBA All-Star team. At the 2000 NBA All-Star Weekend, Carter won the Slam Dunk Contest. He performed incredible dunks, like a 360-degree windmill and putting his elbow in the rim.

Carter with the Raptors in November 2000

Carter and his cousin Tracy McGrady were a strong duo for the Raptors. But McGrady left in 2000. Carter then became the Raptors' main star. In the 2000–01 season, he averaged a career-high 27.6 points per game. He was voted a starter for the 2001 NBA All-Star Game. The Raptors won a team-record 47 games that season.

In the playoffs, the Raptors beat the New York Knicks. They then faced the Philadelphia 76ers in a tough seven-game series. Carter scored 50 points in one game. He set an NBA playoff record for most three-pointers in a game. In the final game, Carter missed a shot that could have won the series.

Carter missed many games in the 2001–02 season due to injury. He still averaged 24.7 points per game. He was chosen for the All-Star Game but couldn't play. Without him, the Raptors lost in the first round of the playoffs.

In February 2003, Carter gave up his starting spot in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game. He wanted to let Michael Jordan make his final All-Star start. Carter played 73 games in the 2003–04 season. But the Raptors did not make the playoffs.

The Big Trade to the Nets

On December 17, 2004, Carter was traded to the New Jersey Nets. He was traded for Alonzo Mourning, Aaron Williams, Eric Williams, and two draft picks.

When Carter first played in Toronto as a Net, fans booed him. But he often played very well against his old team. In one game in 2006, he hit a game-winning three-pointer with 0.1 seconds left. He called it his "number one" shot because of the exciting atmosphere.

Years later, Carter spoke about his time in Toronto. He said he understood why fans were upset when he left. But he still loved the city and appreciated his time there. In 2014, the Raptors honored Carter with a video tribute. Fans gave him a huge standing ovation, and Carter became emotional.

New Jersey Nets: Teaming Up with Jason Kidd

Carter played five seasons for the New Jersey Nets. He had some of his best scoring years with them. He averaged 23.6 points per game. He helped the Nets reach the playoffs three times in a row.

Carter joined a team with stars Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson. In the 2005–06 season, Carter and Kidd led the Nets to 49 wins. They won their division title. The Nets reached the second round of the playoffs. Carter averaged 29.6 points in those playoff games. He was named an All-Star again in 2006.

Carter talks with a referee during a game with the Nets, January 2006

In the 2006–07 season, Carter was named an All-Star for the eighth time. On April 7, 2007, Carter and Kidd both had a triple-double in the same game. This was a rare achievement. Carter had 46 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists. He played all 82 games that season.

In July 2007, Carter signed a new contract with the Nets. In the 2007–08 season, Kidd was traded. Carter became a leader for the team. In 2008–09, he and Devin Harris were one of the highest-scoring duos in the league. On November 21, 2008, Carter scored 39 points against the Toronto Raptors. He hit a game-tying three-pointer and then a game-winning dunk in overtime.

Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns

Carter with the Magic performs a layup against the Raptors, November 2009

On June 25, 2009, Carter was traded to the Orlando Magic. The Magic hoped he would help star center Dwight Howard. On February 8, 2010, Carter scored a season-high 48 points. He helped the Magic come back from a 17-point deficit to win. Carter helped the Magic reach the Eastern Conference Finals. This was the only time in his career he played in a conference finals series.

On December 18, 2010, Carter was traded to the Phoenix Suns. On January 17, 2011, he reached 20,000 career points. He was the 37th NBA player to reach this milestone. In December 2011, Carter was released by the Suns.

Dallas Mavericks: A Veteran Leader

On December 12, 2011, Carter signed with the Dallas Mavericks. He reunited with his former Nets teammate, Jason Kidd. Carter, who was once known for his dunks, became a great three-point shooter with the Mavericks.

Carter with the Mavericks in October 2012

On February 13, 2013, Carter scored 26 points. He passed Larry Bird on the NBA's all-time scoring list. He also became the 11th NBA player with at least 1,600 three-pointers. He finished the season as 27th on the all-time scoring list.

For the 2013–14 season, Carter became the Mavericks' "sixth man." This means he was a key player who came off the bench. On March 16, 2014, he passed 23,000 career points. In the playoffs, Carter hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer against the San Antonio Spurs. This gave the Mavericks a big win in their series.

Memphis Grizzlies: The Ageless Wonder

On July 12, 2014, Carter signed with the Memphis Grizzlies. On November 13, 2014, he made a game-winning pass to a teammate at the buzzer. This helped the Grizzlies win by one point. On December 17, 2014, Carter passed Robert Parish to become 25th in all-time NBA scoring.

In the 2015–16 season, Carter passed Charles Barkley for 24th in career points. He was also given the Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year Award. This award recognizes the best teammate in the NBA.

In the 2016–17 season, Carter continued to set records. On November 1, 2016, he played his 1,278th NBA game. He became the 24th player in NBA history to score over 24,000 points. On November 8, he scored 20 points. At 39 years old, he was the oldest player to score 20 points in a game since Michael Jordan. On January 11, he moved into fifth place on the all-time three-point list. On February 1, he made his 2,000th career three-pointer. He was only the fifth player to reach that mark. On March 13, Carter started a game and made all eight of his shots. He scored 24 points. He became the first 40-year-old in NBA history to hit six three-pointers in one game.

Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks: Playing into Four Decades

Carter with the Sacramento Kings in 2018

On July 10, 2017, Carter signed with the Sacramento Kings. He was named the "Most Influential Veteran" by the NBA Players Association. On December 27, 2017, Carter scored a season-high 24 points. He became the first 40-plus-year-old reserve player to score at least 20 points in a game. On March 19, 2018, he passed Patrick Ewing for 22nd place on the NBA's career scoring list.

On August 24, 2018, Carter signed with the Atlanta Hawks. On October 17, 2018, he started a game at 41 years old. He was the second oldest player to start a season opener in NBA history. On November 21, he reached 25,000 career points. This milestone happened with a slam dunk against his original team, the Toronto Raptors. On December 29, he scored 21 points. He became the oldest player in NBA history to score 20+ points at 41 years and 337 days old. On March 1, 2019, Carter played 45 minutes in a game. At 42, he was the oldest player to play that many minutes. On March 4, he scored 21 points, all from three-pointers. He passed Reggie Miller for 20th on the all-time scoring list. He also passed Jamal Crawford for sixth on the all-time three-point list.

In June 2019, Carter announced he would retire after the 2019-20 NBA season. On October 24, 2019, he played his first game of his 22nd season. Four of his teammates were born after he was drafted in 1998! On January 4, 2020, Carter became the only player in NBA history to play in four different decades. On March 11, 2020, he played his final game. He made a three-pointer in the last seconds. The NBA season was then stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Carter officially retired on June 25, 2020.

National Team Career

Vince Carter also played for the U.S. national team. He played in the 1995 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup.

At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Carter led the U.S. team in scoring. He averaged 14.8 points per game. He also performed one of his most famous dunks. He jumped over a 7-foot-2-inch French player named Frédéric Weis. The French media called it "le dunk de la mort" ("the Dunk of Death"). The U.S. team won the gold medal that year.

Carter also played for the U.S. team in the 2003 Tournament of the Americas. The U.S. team won another gold medal there.

Other Activities

Vince Carter opened a restaurant in Daytona Beach in 2010. He also had a sponsorship deal with Nike. Nike released several signature shoes for him.

After retiring from playing, Carter became a basketball analyst for ESPN. He later joined YES Network as an analyst for Brooklyn Nets games. Carter also became part of a group that bought a small share of the National Football League's Buffalo Bills team.

Awards and Achievements

Vince Carter is the only player in NBA history to play in a game in four different decades. He is also one of only six players in NBA history to have at least 24,000 points, 6,000 rebounds, 2,500 assists, 1,000 steals, and 1,000 three-point shots. Carter holds the record for the most game-winning three-point shots at the buzzer in NBA history.

On November 2, 2024, the Toronto Raptors retired Carter's jersey number. He was the first Raptors player to have his jersey retired by the team.

• 8× NBA All-Star selection: 2000–2007 (missed 2002 due to injury)
• Olympic gold medal: 2000
• 2× All-NBA:
  • Second Team: 2001
  • Third Team: 2000
• NBA Slam Dunk Champion: 2000
• NBA All-Rookie First Team: 1999
• NBA Rookie of the Year Award: 1999
• The Sporting News NBA Rookie of the Year: 1999
• Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year Award: 2016
• NBA Sportsmanship Award: 2020

NBA playoff records

• Most three-point field goals made in one half: 8 (May 11, 2001 vs. Philadelphia 76ers)
• Most consecutive three-point field goals made in one game: 8 (same game as above)
• First and only 40-year-old player to hit at least three 3-pointers in a playoff game: 3 (April 22, 2017 vs. San Antonio Spurs)

Toronto Raptors team records

• Most points scored in a season: 2,107 (1999–2000)
• Most points scored in a playoff game: 50 (May 11, 2001 vs. Philadelphia 76ers)
• Highest career points per game average: 23.4
• Highest points per game in a season: 27.6 (2000–01)

New Jersey Nets team records

• Most points scored in a season: 2,070 (2006–07)

Career bests

• Points: 51 (2 times)
• Three-point shots made: 9 vs. Memphis December 11, 2006
• Rebounds: 16 vs. Washington April 7, 2007
• Assists: 14 vs. Milwaukee January 9, 2009
• Steals: 6 (5 times)
• Blocks: 6 vs. Chicago March 28, 1999

Video Games and TV Appearances

Vince Carter has been featured in many video games, TV shows, and movies.

• Cover of NBA 2K25 - Hall of Fame Edition
• Cover of NBA Live 2004
• Movie Like Mike (2002), where he played himself.
• TV series Moesha, as himself in an episode (1999).
• Documentary film The Carter Effect (2017), about his impact on Canadian basketball.
• Documentary film Vince Carter: Legacy (2021), about his 22-season NBA career.
• Host of Vince's Places (2022), an ESPN+ series about basketball history.

Personal Life

Vince Carter has a daughter with his first wife, Ellen Rucker. He is now married to Sondi Carter. They have a son and a daughter.

Carter has given money to his high school, Mainland High School. He also started a charity called The Embassy of Hope. This foundation helps children and families. In 2007, he received an award for his charity work in Florida.

Carter is also the second cousin of NBA player Tracy McGrady. They were teammates on the Raptors. They didn't know they were related until a family reunion in 1997.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

College

Source

See also

• List of NBA career scoring leaders
• List of NBA career steals leaders
• List of NBA career turnovers leaders
• List of NBA career personal fouls leaders
• List of NBA career 3-point scoring leaders
• List of NBA career minutes played leaders
• List of NBA career games played leaders
• List of NBA career free throw scoring leaders
• List of NBA single-game playoff scoring leaders
• List of oldest and youngest NBA players
• List of NBA seasons played leaders
• List of Olympic medalists in basketball
• NBA regular season records
• NBA post-season records