Toronto Raptors players, alumni, executives and fans came together to honour a legend who paved the way for the franchise.
The Raptors honoured Vince Carter by raising his No. 15 to the rafters of Scotiabank Arena at halftime of their game against fellow former franchise star DeMar DeRozan and the Sacramento Kings.
As Carter walked out onto the court to open the ceremony he was met with roaring applause. The emotions of the moment quickly caught up with Carter as he began to cry and shout as he embraced a moment with Raptors fans.
There was plenty of Raptors royalty were in attendance, including Carter's former Toronto teammates Jerome Williams, Dee Brown, Kevin Willis, Muggsy Bogues, Antonio Davis, Alvin Williams, Morris Peterson and fellow Hall of Famer (and cousin) Tracy McGrady. Other important figures from the Raptors' history congratulated Carter in a video played on the big screen, including DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, and Stephen Curry, whose father Dell was teammates with Carter in Toronto.
Current Raptors president Masai Ujiri introduced Carter with a loud speech acknowledging the impact the Hall of Famer had on the game of basketball north of the border.
"He is a legend, he is an icon, he is half-man, half-amazing," Ujiri said. "He taught us how to fly, and those of us who don't know how to fly, he taught us how to dream to fly."
Carter then took to the podium and gave a passionate speech, looking back on his years in Toronto and thanking those who helped him reach this moment.
"It was here where I landed, here where 'Vinsanity,' 'Air Canada' and 'half man, half amazing' was born ... believing in me and my abilities," he said.
Carter's split with the Raptors when he was traded to the Nets in 2004 disappointed many Toronto fans, who shared their feelings with him whenever he returned to Toronto with other teams. But in his speech, Carter specifically called out a moment in 2014 when the fans welcomed him back with a warm ovation as part of the team's 20th anniversary celebrations. That moment, he said, was "a day I'll never forget."
"My heart was full of joy to finally have that moment with you all," he said. "It was something I always wanted and a feeling I wanted us all to have, and got us to where we are today... I am honoured we get to share this moment together finally."
Carter took some time to thank MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum, former Raptors coach Sam Mitchell and Canadian rap icon Drake. And then he closed his remarks with one final message.
"When that jersey goes up shortly, it's not just Carter (No.) 15 going up, it's all of us going up," he said. "The memories that have been created through six years, however you view it, goes up tonight.
"So I hope and pray we enjoy our jersey being retired together forever, thank you Toronto."
With his family by his side, Carter unveiled the first jersey banner to go up in franchise history. Fittingly, the No. 15 was in the iconic font from the jersey he wore during the 2000 dunk contest and in front of it was an image of him from that winning performance.
And with that, No. 15 will forever be a part of Raptors' history.
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