Basketball real fans: Vince Carter

A high school McDonald's All-American, Carter went on to star for three years at the University of North Carolina before being selected as the #5 pick in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, who traded him to the Toronto Raptors. The NBA Rookie of the Year his first season, he shot to fame as the winner of the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest the next season, competing alongside his third cousin and then-teammate, Tracy McGrady.

An eight-time NBA All-Star, Carter joined NBA icons Julius Erving and Michael Jordan as the only players to lead the NBA All-Star Game fan voting three or more times. He helped lead the Raptors to three consecutive playoff appearances before various injuries and losing seasons caused relations between Carter and the Raptors to deteriorate. In 2004, he was traded to the New Jersey Nets, where he spent five years before being moved to the Orlando Magic on the day of the 2009 NBA Draft. In December 2010 he was traded by the Magic to the Phoenix Suns.

Collegiate career

Born in Daytona Beach, Florida, Carter was a 1995 McDonald's All-American at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach before spending three seasons playing college basketball at North Carolina under Dean Smith and later, Bill Guthridge. During the 1997–1998 season, he was a member of new coach Guthridge's successful rotation of Antawn Jamison, Shammond Williams, Ed Cota, Ademola Okulaja, and Makhtar N'diaye.

Carter also became a pioneer of the Internet during his collegiate career. In 1995 he followed teammate Shammond Williams as the second collegiate athlete to have his own website.

NBA career

Toronto Raptors (1998–2004)

In 1998, Carter was drafted by the NBA's Golden State Warriors with the fifth overall pick, and then traded to the Toronto Raptors for the fourth overall pick, Antawn Jamison, his college teammate and good friend. His first agent was National Football League super agent William "Tank" Black who was later imprisoned in connection with money laundering and other charges. Carter's rookie season was the shortened 50-game 1999 season, after the NBA locked out its players in 1998–99. Carter started almost every game for coach Butch Carter, averaged 18.3 points per game (ppg), and eventually won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. The next year, Carter was selected to an All-Star Team for the first time, averaged 25.7 ppg, made the Third Team All-NBA, and showcased his athleticism and dunking abilities in the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. He won the contest by performing an array of dunks including a 360° windmill, a between the legs bounce dunk, and an "elbow in the rim" dunk (also known as a "cookie jar" dunk or the "honey dip") Though he never competed in the dunk contest again for safety purposes, Carter was voted into the Eastern Conference NBA All-Star Team starting lineup several times through fan balloting.

In Carter's first two seasons, he and his distant cousin Tracy McGrady formed a formidable one-two punch as Raptor teammates. The two led the Raptors to their first playoff berth in the 2000 NBA Playoffs, but they were swept in the first round by the New York Knicks, in 3 games. Upon McGrady's departure to the Orlando Magic the following season, Carter became the Raptors' franchise player.

Carter going for a lay-up

In 2000–01, his third season, Carter averaged a career-high 27.6 ppg, made the Second Team All-NBA, and was voted in as a starter in the 2001 NBA All-Star Game, while the Raptors finished the regular season with a franchise-record 47 wins. In the playoffs, the Raptors beat the New York Knicks 3–2 in the first round, and advanced to the 2001 Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they took the Philadelphia 76ers to a decisive seventh game. On the morning of thday of Game 7, May 20, 2001, Carter attended his university graduation. In that game, Carter missed a game-winning shot with 2.0 seconds remaining, and afterwards, he was criticized for his decision to attend his graduation by media and fans.

In the summer of 2001, Carter signed a $94 million, six-year extension with the Raptors^] In addition, Carter announced that he would be hosting a charity basketball game featuring fellow NBA stars that would be played at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on August 3, 2001. The success of the first game encouraged Carter to make the game an annual summer event.

The next season was an injury-riddled one for Carter. He started in 60 games and he averaged 24.7 ppg. He was voted into the 2002 NBA All-Star Game, but he could not participate due to injury. The Raptors did not fare well without their All-Star player. The team lost 17 of 18 games to drop to 30–38, then won 12 of their last 14 to finish at 42–40. Carter was injured during the 2002 NBA Playoffs, and his team was defeated in the first round by the Detroit Pistons, in 5 games.

During the 2003 NBA All-Star Game, as a sign of respect, Carter gave up his starting All-Star spot to the Washington Wizards' Michael Jordan to allow Jordan to make his final start as an All-Star. During his raptors tenure, Carter developed jumper's knee^] in his left knee.

In the 2004 off-season, Carter became frustrated with the Raptors' management for their desire to rebuild. In particular, Carter was unhappy with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), especially president Richard Peddie. In a private meeting, Peddie gave the impression to Carter that MLSE was serious in building a contender in Toronto, would pursue players like Steve Nash and Jamaal Magloire, and consider a G.M. like Julius Erving, who could attract players to Toronto.Frustrated with the new direction of the Raptors management who selected Rafael Araujo that summer rather than pursuing established players like Nash or Magloire, and not interviewing Julius Erving, much speculation had arisen whether he wanted to be traded. During the early part of the 2004–05 season, Carter posted a career-low 15.9 ppg on reduced playing time, under new head coachSam Mitchell. Mitchell often benched Carter in the 4th quarter to emphasize his new coaching philosophy, spurring rumors of fights between Carter and Mitchell. Mitchell would later deny them.

New Jersey Nets (2004–2009)

Carter during his tenure with the Nets.

On December 17, 2004, new Raptors General Manager Rob Babcock traded Carter to the New Jersey Nets for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and two future first-round draft picks.

In early January 2005, when asked by TNT's John Thompson if he always pushed himself as hard as he should, Carter replied, "In years past, no. I was fortunate to have the talent. You get spoiled when you're able to do a lot of things. You see that you don't have to work at it." Though Carter's comments were perceived by Raptors fans as his confession to not giving his all as a Raptor,Thompson said the comments were misinterpreted, saying, "That boy never said to me, 'Coach, I just laid down and quit.' ...I was embarrassed and felt awful about it for his sake, because I knew what he was communicating to me. I think he was more expressing a desire of wanting to do better, as we all do." Despite Thompson's defense, the Toronto Star's Dave Feschuk wrote that Carter "cheated on (the Raptors). He quit on the floor.", and Carter is still booed by Raptors fans each time he has returned to play in Toronto. On the eve of the Raptors and Nets' playoff series in 2007, Carter told New York's WFAN radio station, "One day, maybe the fans will understand how it all went down. That's all I can say."

In the 2005–06 NBA season, he co-led the Nets to 49 wins, an Atlantic Division title, and the number three seed in the playoffs, while averaging 24.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. He led the Nets to the second round of the playoffs before losing to the eventual NBA champions Miami Heat in five games. Carter averaged 29.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 11 playoff games.

On February 1, 2007, Carter was named, along with teammate Jason Kidd, as a reserve to the 2007 NBA All-Star Game, after losing out on a starting spot to Gilbert Arenas by 3,010 votes. Both Carter and Kidd made their eighth All-Star game appearance.

In a 120–114 overtime win over the Washington Wizards, April 7, 2007, Carter and Jason Kidd became the first teammates in over 18 years to record triple-doubles in the same game since the Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen achieved this feat against the Los Angeles Clippers in 1989. Carter finished with 46 points, a career-high 16 rebounds, and 10 assists. Kidd finished with 10 points, tied a career-high with 16 rebounds, and tied a season-high with 18 assists. Carter's triple double is the second highest total for a triple double, second only to Alvan Adams of the Phoenix Suns who tallied 47 points and 18 rebounds and 12 assists over 30 years ago.

Carter and Yi Jianlian in 2009.

After the Nets eliminated the Raptors, the Nets were eliminated from the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers (lost series 4–2). In the offseason, rumors of the Nets trading Carter again arose. After the New York Knicks and Nets discussed a trade around February of Carter (which was ended with the trading deadline), the two teams again revisited the subject. Carter, who opted out of his contract on June 30, reportedly wanted a three-year, $60 million deal however, which the Knicks were wary of. On July 1, 2007 Carter signed a 4-year, $61.8 million contract with the Nets.

On January 24, 2008, the Nets played on the road against the Golden State Warriors. The game was broadcast on TNT, and at the half-time show, Magic Johnson claimed that Carter's game was on the decline due to chronic injuries to his knees. This was proven to be unfounded as Carter had hurt his ankle in an October game against the Boston Celtics which would hinder him throughout the 2007–2008 season. Hampered by injuries, Carter was not named as one of the reserves for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game.This marked the first time in his NBA career Carter was not named as an All-Star since his rookie season, when the game was canceled due to the NBA lockout. Despite playing with an ankle injury, Carter finished the season strong with averages of 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists after the All-Star break. He was one of only three NBA players, along with LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, to average at least 21 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the year, with averages of 21.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. He led the Nets in freethrow percentage, assists and steals per game (81.6%, 5.1, 1.2). Rod Thorn credited Carter for becoming a leader since the All-Star break, and said he believed that Carter could lead the Nets back to the playoffs the following year.Carter's injury was confirmed after undergoing a successful arthroscopic ankle surgery in the off-season.

For the 2008–09 season, Carter was voted team captain, a title that had been given to Jason Kidd for the previous 6 years.

Orlando Magic (2009–2010)

Carter being defended byRichard Jefferson.

On June 25, 2009, the day of the NBA Draft, Carter was traded to his hometown-team, the Orlando Magic with Ryan Anderson for Rafer Alston, Tony Battie andCourtney Lee; the Magic were searching for a go-to scorer who could take pressure off Dwight Howard. The Nets without Carter ended up going 12-70.

Carter made his season debut with the Magic on October 28, 2009 against the Philadelphia 76ers at home, recording 15 points and 2 assists to help the Magic defeat the Sixers. On February 8, 2010, Carter scored a season-high 48 points in a 123-117 win against the New Orleans Hornets, including 34 points in the second half to help rally the Magic back from a 17-point deficit.^[40]

Vince Carter helped lead the Magic to the 2010 NBA Playoffs, sweeping the Charlotte Bobcats and the Atlanta Hawks in the first two rounds, before falling to the Boston Celtics in Eastern Conference Finals in 6 games. This marked the first time Carter made it to the Conference Finals.^[41]

Phoenix Suns (2010–present)

On December 18, 2010, Carter was traded to the Phoenix Suns along with Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus, a 2011 first-round draft pick, and $3 million, for Hedo Türkoğlu, Jason Richardson, and Earl Clark.

2000 Summer Olympics

Medal record
Men’s basketball
Competitor for United States
Olympic Games
Gold	2000 Sydney	Team competition
FIBA Americas Championship
Gold	2003 San Juan	Team competition

During the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Carter performed a memorable dunk when he jumped over 7-foot-2 (2.18 m) French center Frédéric Weis. Carter stole the ball, sprinted, took off—legs spread in midair, and hit Weis's head as he bent over to avoid the collision, before slamming the ball. Teammate Jason Kidd said it was "One of the best plays I've ever seen." The French media later dubbed it "le dunk de la mort" ("the Dunk of Death").The U.S. team went on to win the gold medal that year.

Awards and achievements

8× NBA All-Star selection: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 (did not play in 2002 due to injury)
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^[44]

NBA playoff records

Co-holds NBA playoff record for most three-point field goals made in one game: 9 (May 11, 2001 vs. Philadelphia 76ers, Eastern Conference Semifinals)
Most three-point field goals made in one half: 8 (same game as above)
Most consecutive three-point field goals made in one game: 8 (same game as above)
Most consecutive three-point field goals made in one half: 8 (same game as above)^[45]

New Jersey Nets franchise records

Most three-point field goals made in one game: 9 (December 11, 2006 vs. Mem phis Grizzlies)
Most points scored in one season: 2,070 (2006–07)
Most consecutive 20 or more point games: 23 (2005–06)
He is the first Net to score at least 2,000 points in a single season. (2006–07)^[46]

Career highs

Basketball real fans

quarta-feira, 16 de fevereiro de 2011

Vince Carter