The Toronto Raptors honored one of their all-time greats, Vince Carter, with an emotional jersey retirement ceremony at Scotiabank Arena during a game against the Sacramento Kings. It marked the first time the Raptors have retired a jersey number.
Carter, who spent the first seven seasons of his illustrious NBA career with the Raptors, was visibly moved as his No. 15 jersey was raised to the rafters.
Vince Carter’s No. 15 forever in the Toronto rafters 💜
Vinsanity becomes the first Raptor EVER to receive the honor 🙌 pic.twitter.com/N9klL8d2yc
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 3, 2024
“It’s not just Carter 15 going up, it’s all of us going up,” Carter told the cheering crowd, acknowledging the collective memories and experiences shared during his time in Toronto.
The ceremony was attended by Carter’s family, former teammates, and Raptors president Masai Ujiri, who introduced Carter with heartfelt words:
“He taught us how to fly, and those who don’t know how to fly, he taught us how to dream how to fly.”
Carter’s cousin and fellow NBA Legend Tracy McGrady, along with other former Raptors like Antonio Davis, Kevin Willis, and Charles Oakley, joined him on the court for the ceremony.
Carter’s impact on Canadian basketball is undeniable. He was the 1999 Rookie of the Year and an All-Star in his second season, when Toronto made the playoffs for the first time. His high-flying dunks and scoring prowess earned him the nickname “Air Canada.”
Despite a contentious exit from Toronto in 2004, the relationship between Carter and Raptors fans has mended over the years. The jersey retirement ceremony was a testament to his lasting legacy and the respect he has earned from fans and the basketball community.
Carter’s emotional speech, which included pauses to control his tears, highlighted the significance of the moment.
The ceremony concluded with a video tribute featuring congratulatory messages from NBA stars like Stephen Curry, Kyle Lowry, and DeMar DeRozan, as well as former Raptors players and fans. The banner featuring Carter’s name and number now hangs in the rafters, immortalizing his contributions to the Raptors and Canadian basketball.
Vince Carter comes out to a roaring standing-ovation ahead of his jersey retirement in Toronto! 💜 pic.twitter.com/ZVOn9rimrI
— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) November 3, 2024
