The Toronto Raptors will retire Vince Carter’s No. 15 jersey tonight.
The Raptors will hang his jersey up in the Scotiabank Arena rafters during their matchup against the Sacramento Kings.
LeBron James and the Lakers were in town to take on the Raptors on Nov. 1. After the game, James was asked to share his thoughts on the Raptors retiring Carter’s jersey, via TSN’s Josh Lewenberg:
“It makes all the sense in the world, with what he’s done for this franchise, the impact that he had in this community, the way he changed how basketball is looked at in Canada…well deserved.”
James also shared his favorite Carter moments:
“The 50-point game verses the Sixers in the postseason…two-hand windmill, backwards dunk verses Indiana [Pacers] on Chris Mullin, went around Chris Mullin and Rik Smits trapped the box…the lob in preseason down at the University of North Carolina when he got that windmill…and obviously the dunk contest.”
LeBron on Raptors retiring Vince Carter’s jersey: “It makes all the sense in the world, with what he’s done for this franchise, the impact that he had in this community, the way he changed how basketball is looked at in Canada… Well deserved.” pic.twitter.com/p15HpUxkVL
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) November 2, 2024
The Lakers spent the night in Toronto and will watch Carter’s jersey retirement.
Carter and James played against each other many times over the course of several seasons. When James entered the NBA, Carter was just in his sixth season. Carter played a total of 22 seasons to set an NBA record that James just tied this season.
Carter averaged 23.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per contest in 403 regular season games for the Raptors.
The Raptors then traded Carter to the New Jersey Nets, which was the worst trade in franchise history. From that point on, Carter became the biggest villain in Toronto.
However, as the years passed Raptors fans forgave Carter. Now, the franchise will honor him and celebrate his legacy.
Raptors fight back in second half but fall to LeBron & Lakers
After a slow start, the Raptors turned things around in the second half but it wasn’t enough as the Lakers pulled away with a 131-125 victory.
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