
Vince points the passer (Getty Images)
In the summer of 1998, a young man by the name of Vince Carter was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the fifth pick in the NBA Draft.
A former UNC standout, Carter helped the Tar Heels reach consecutive Final Four appearances and was named a second-team All-American during the 1997-98 season. Following the draft, the Warriors traded Carter to the Toronto Raptors, where he blossomed into a star. Carter’s legendary dunks earned him the nickname “Vinsanity” and he won the 1999 Rookie of the Year Award.
Nearly 20 years later, Carter is still dunking.
An eight-time All-Star, 41-year-old Carter is one of the longest-tenured players in NBA history. He is one of only seven players in league history to play for 20 seasons, joining NBA legends like Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kevin Garnett, and has played for seven different teams during his career.
But as some players whither with age, Carter is still showing the younger generations how to play ball. In last year’s playoffs, Carter started all six games for the Memphis Grizzlies, averaged 32.5 minutes per game and racked up the highest field goal percentage of his playoff career. He is still dunking over younger players, as Aaron Gordon learned above, and has been courted in free agency despite his age.
Carter has a chance to break more records. If “Vinsanity” plays during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, he will break the record for most seasons played in NBA history. Carter, along with Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, have a chance to make the record unreachable if they play a few more seasons. The next closest player is Milwaukee’s Jason Terry at 19 seasons.
So while Carter might be the oldest active player in the NBA right now, he still has a few more awesome dunks left in his career. If you’re under the net while Carter has the ball, watch out.
Related Stories
‹

Michael Jordan to Appear on Cover of NBA 2K23Even almost two decades after his (final) retirement, His Airness still dominates the NBA. Michael Jordan will grace the cover of special editions of NBA 2K23, the video game announced Tuesday. No other way to do it for 2️⃣3️⃣ Introducing our #NBA2K23 Cover Athlete Michael Jordan 🏀Michael Jordan Edition🏆Championship Edition Pre-order starting 7/7 pic.twitter.com/WwVTynbK2x — […]

Brady Manek Signs With Charlotte HornetsBrady Manek is league-bound, and he won’t have to travel very far. The UNC men’s basketball star and fan favorite signed with the Charlotte Hornets Friday afternoon, and will play with the team in the NBA’s annual Summer League. @BradyManek is heading to Charlotte for this year's Summer League 🔥 Congratulations to Brady Manek and […]

Former Tar Heel Garrison Brooks Signs Contract With New York KnicksGarrison Brooks is headed to the Big Apple. The former Tar Heel big man, who spent last year playing at Mississippi State, signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the New York Knicks Friday. BREAKING NEWS: Former UNC basketball standout Garrison Brooks has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the New York Knicks.https://t.co/jPIhfFNcuF — Keeping It […]

UNC Basketball Alumnus Reggie Bullock Receives Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion AwardReggie Bullock has been making plays on the court for the Dallas Mavericks throughout this year’s NBA Playoffs, but it’s what the UNC basketball alumnus has been doing off the court that’s been getting attention. On Sunday, the NBA named Bullock the recipient of the 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award. The NBA today […]

Former UNC Star Kenny Williams Named to Charlotte Hornets' Summer League RosterThe Charlotte Hornets released their 2021 Summer League roster Monday afternoon, and Tar Heel fans will notice a familiar name… if not a familiar school. Introducing your 2021 NBA Summer League roster 👊 🔗: https://t.co/Mtr5JNriW5#AllFly pic.twitter.com/7KYo6xTur5 — Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) August 2, 2021 Former UNC star Kenny Williams made the Hornets’ squad for the NBA […]

Chansky's Notebook: Mysterious InjuryWhat does Coby White’s injury mean for his NBA career? Chicago and all Bulls fans were aghast when their star combo guard was injured mysteriously in “basketball activities away from the team.” Why not say what Coby was doing and where when tearing his left shoulder labrum. He was reportedly in Chapel Hill that week […]

UNC Standout Day'Ron Sharpe Taken 29th in NBA DraftFormer UNC standout Day’Ron Sharpe is officially headed to the NBA, as the Phoenix Suns drafted him on Thursday night. The 6-foot-11 Greenville, N.C. native was taken 29th overall, the second-to-last pick in the first round, after a strong year off the bench for the Tar Heels in the 2020-21 season. As part of a […]

UNC Basketball vs. Virginia Tech: How To Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off TimeUNC basketball travels to Virginia Tech hoping to snap a four-game losing streak and finally push Roy Williams over Dean Smith in the all-time wins column. The Tar Heels beat Yale on December 30 to put Williams in a tie with his mentor Smith, but since then have gone winless in 2020. Since the start […]

Kevin Durant: 'I Wanted To Go To Carolina'Was Kevin Durant almost a Tar Heel? In a recent interview with The Player’s Tribune, Durant said UNC was one of his favorite schools throughout the recruiting process. “I wanted to go to Carolina,” Durant said. “All of my friends were getting recruited there.” Kevin Durant “I wanted to go to Carolina” pic.twitter.com/fdOpfQj2Y4 — Tar […]
![]()
Former UNC Star Vince Carter turns 41In the summer of 1998, a young man by the name of Vince Carter was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the fifth pick in the NBA Draft. A former UNC standout, Carter helped the Tar Heels reach consecutive Final Four appearances and was named a second-team All-American during the 1997-98 season. Following the […]
›
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines