It is no secret that professional basketball has changed recently. NBA players don’t hesitate to change teams in an effort to win championships. LeBron to the Heat, KD to the Warriors, the list goes on. However, there is one player who refuses to give in to the changing NBA culture, Vince Carter.
There is a glaring difference between VC and most other NBA players; he played in the 90s. The landscape of the league was different then, loyalty actually meant something to both teams and players, and that mentality has been drilled into Carter since he was drafted in 1998.
Even though he has witnessed all these superstars move around to add some hardware to their trophy case, Carter doesn’t plan on following in their footsteps.
“I come from an era where that’s not how it was. So that’s still instilled in me. And I don’t have any problem with how it’s done now. (It’s) just not for me.”
He has no rings to show for his soon to be 21 years in the NBA, and he doesn’t have a problem with that. Of course, he would like to win a championship, but he wants to do it the old-fashioned way where stars from across conferences don’t all flock to one city in order to make it to the NBA Finals.
He is committed to the Atlanta Hawks for at least one year, and it is safe to say they will not win the 2019 NBA championship. There is always the possibility that he will receive a good offer from a contender in 2020, but this season will likely be his last as a professional basketball player.
Vince Carter is "90-something percent" sure this will be his last season https://t.co/2r44QPPv8A pic.twitter.com/cKSuAHInKl
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) August 3, 2018
Vinsanity may not have any rings, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his fair share of awards and achievements. He is an 8-time NBA All-Star, 2-time All-NBA selection, and even holds an Olympic Gold Medal. Carter has set records in the playoffs as well. Back in 2001 during the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers, he knocked down eight consecutive threes in one half which is the most in NBA history. He is also the first player over the age of 40 to hit at least three three-pointers in a playoff game.
When the day comes for Carter to retire, he plans to pursue a broadcasting career.
Featured Image Via Wikimedia Commons
