• Career summary: “Half-man, half-amazing!” with just a dash of giant tortoise or Timex. The No. 5 pick in 1998, Carter was traded on Draft night for UNC teammate Antawn Jamison, then played — and played and played — for a record-setting 21 seasons (six more than Jamison). Only three players have topped 20, with LeBron James set to match Carter’s mark with his first appearance of 2024-25. But of Carter’s 1,541 games, 959 came after age 30 — more than Jerry West, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and some other legends played, period. Carter’s remarkable longevity only ended on March 11, 2020 — and it took the global COVID-19 lockdowns to do it.
• Hall of Fame credentials: Carter’s tenacity and ability to earn roster spots and contracts with eight franchises gets a lot of run now. But he started his NBA career flashing across the sky like a meteor. His eight All-Star selections came before his age-30 season, by which time he was averaging 24.1 points per game. The Rookie of the Year in 1999 made All-NBA in his second and third seasons with Toronto. Over Carter’s final nine seasons, he averaged 8.5 ppg off various benches and three times finished in the top 15 of Kia Sixth Man balloting.
• Most memorable moment: He retired at 43, but Carter was an explosive 23 when he took over the dunk contest at the 2000 All-Star Weekend. His repertoire of high-flying theatrics made him a household name in two countries, not just one, and furthered comparisons to that other former Tar Heel, Michael Jordan. Carter was the Raptors’ first All-Star, the first star to lead them to the playoffs and a playoff series victory, but nothing topped his rim-rattling display in Oakland.
Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams.
Download now https://link.nba.com/NBAYouTube
Subscribe to the NBA: https://on.nba.com/2JX5gSN
Take the opportunity to connect and share this video with your friends and family if you find it useful.
