TORONTO — Moving forward, No. 15 will forever hang from the rafters of the building “Air Canada” helped popularize.
No, not the airline… Vince Carter.
The Toronto Raptors made sure of that on Friday when team president Masai Ujiri officially announced the organization will be retiring Carter’s jersey and hanging it up in Scotiabank Arena later this season. The ceremony will take place on Nov. 2 when Toronto hosts DeMar DeRozan and the Sacramento Kings.
“What you’ve done for the game, the opportunity you gave all of us to really thrive in this game and grow,” Ujiri told Carter while making the announcement, “we (retire your jersey) with great pride and honour … the first jersey to go up.”
Carter spent his first seven NBA seasons with the Raptors, winning Rookie of the Year in 1999, making six All-Star games and putting forth arguably the greatest individual Slam Dunk Contest display basketball fans have seen in 2000.
He was undeniably the franchise’s first notable figure in its formative years, carrying the Raptors to its first post-season appearances and series win.
“The Carter effect is real,” Ujiri said while addressing a packed crowd at the refurbished Vince Carter court at Dixon Park in Toronto. “It was Vince who inspired kids across Toronto and Canada, who got a basketball into their hands and inspired them to take flight, as he did so many times in our jersey.”
And although he was visibly overwhelmed with emotion upon the announcement, Carter took a moment to not only thank the city and organization but also acknowledge those who may not be on board with the franchise’s decision and urged them with a message.
“For those that appreciate it, or don’t appreciate it, don’t agree with it… enjoy it,” Carter said. “This is an opportunity that we’ve never gotten to see before.”
It’s no secret that the “Half-man, Half-amazing” left the franchise on unceremonious terms. In 2004, amid some of the lowest and uncharacteristic statistical performances of his career, Carter requested a trade and was dealt to the New Jersey Nets for pennies on the dollar. The trade left some of those same fans who marvelled at his high-flying antics heartbroken by the departure of the Raptors’ first superstar.
“At some point it’s time to bring people together,” Carter said when asked about people who may still have an issue with the end of his tenure in Toronto. “Let’s come together for a change, it’s a great opportunity. This is something that has never happened before.
“So let’s celebrate it more so than throw your nose up at it… and I’m just truly thankful to be a part of this.”
Ujiri echoed that message. “As people, you forgive.”
“That’s life, and that’s the way life should be, when we know better we do better. He was young, and some of the things he did, we recognize that. But he’s changed as a person and you can really see it. I think he’s apologetic for that but he’s grown over time … and I appreciate the player and the person.”
Someone who may understand the situation from both perspectives better than anyone is Raptors forward Kelly Olynyk. The Toronto native grew up idolizing and imitating Carter like most kids around the time and admits that his departure naturally left a “sour taste.”
“(But) time heals everything, and sometimes you have to forget the bad and recognize and realize all the good that he did for this country and this franchise,” Olynyk said.
“It was just so much electricity, excitement and passion. It was really just kind of the first time as a basketball fan (in Toronto), you had something to watch, admire and aspire to be.”
Meanwhile, Carter has looked to make amends with the fanbase in his own way. Part of it came with his rededication to Dixon Park and the Vince Carter Court his Embassy of Hope Foundation originally built in 2003. He, along with MLSE and the City of Toronto committed $1 million to revitalize the court ahead of Friday’s festivities in an act he described as a “baby step.”
Another part of that process is his intention to enter the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a Raptor — a decision he claims to have made quickly.
“I immediately made it clear when the Hall of Fame came about that I was going in as a Raptor,” Carter said. “Yes, great things happened in New Jersey, but this is where it started first.”
The now Brooklyn Nets are also set to retire Carter’s No. 15 this January, making him the first player in league history to have his number honoured by two franchises in the same season.
Carter did admit that having his jersey retired by the Raptors wasn’t something on his radar for most of his career but a moment in 2014 “just opened everybody’s eyes.”
During the Raptors 20th anniversary season, when Carter and the Memphis Grizzlies visited Scotiabank Arena, a video tribute and standing ovation brought the former franchise star to tears.
“For me, that was a turning point… we’re trying to move on, we’ll figure everything out later, organically,” Carter said.
“Coming together, at peace, to be here and do things … this is what I wanted more than anything. I had six crazy years here, period. For those that know me, they know my love for (Toronto). It’s just hard to articulate it and to get people to buy into that. But here we are.”
And for those who are in the camp that Kyle Lowry, a six-time All-Star and champion with the Raptors, should’ve been first to have his jersey hung up in the rafters, Ujiri made it clear that his time would come — and maybe even others.
“They’ll all come,” the Raptors president said. “They’ve got to stop playing first. All those guys, they’re all legends here and well appreciated in the city, country and organization, so all those will come in time.”
The announcement of the 22-year NBA veteran’s jersey retirement appears to be the first of many celebrations, during the Raptors’ 30th anniversary season. A “fitting” choice according to Ujiri.
Details of the year-long festivities have been kept under wraps for the most part by the franchise but they did mention that they also plan to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Carter’s iconic dunk contest performance on Feb. 12 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
And while some fans will surely discuss, debate and gripe over Carter being honoured nearly two decades following his time in Toronto — while others merely enjoy the nostalgia trip — “Air Canada” is simply “thankful and grateful” for all of it.
“I know there are people out there who have their mixed reviews of me and that’s okay, that’s fine … but let’s enjoy the moment.”