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Vince Carter Revealed What Jason Kidd Told Him When He Joined The Nets

After the Toronto Raptors did not make the playoffs in the 2003-04 season, General Manager Glen Grunwald and the entire coaching staff were fired during the summer, which made Vince Carter angry and frustrated with the Raptors’ front office. Eventually, Carter asked for a trade, and on December 18, 2004, the Raptors traded Carter to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and two first-round draft picks. Back then, the Nets were led by Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson, with the addition of Carter, they basically had their own, early version of a big three.

But Carter wasn’t sure how to approach and act around Kidd and the other Nets when he arrived, but Kidd himself quickly erased any concerns Carter had.

“I remember just saying, ‘I’m just trying to fit in,’” said Carter during a question-and-answer session with Michael Scotto of The Athletic. “Jason Kidd said, ‘No. I need you to be who you are, and we’ll adjust to you.’ It was just a pretty cool situation. You get there, and you know who Kidd is. He’s a Hall of Fame player, and you saw the success and the up-and-coming star Jefferson was becoming as a two-way player on both ends, and a transition guy who could get out and finish and you just wanted to fit in with what was going on.”