Seemingly with each passing game this season, Grizzlies forward Vince Carter reaches another milestone in a career that has spanned 19 NBA seasons.
Already this season, the 39-year-old veteran became the 24th player in NBA history to score 24,000 points. Carter has also moved into the league’s all-time Top 25 in career games played, made field goals overall and total three-pointers. The eight-time NBA All-Star, 1998-99 league rookie of the year and 2000 dunk contest champion should be a lock for the Hall of Fame when he retires.
A month shy of his 40th birthday, he’s just not ready yet.
“I love playing, I love competing and I love being a part of this,” said Carter, who is the oldest current player in the league. “When I step on the court l expect to play well. And when I don’t, it bothers me. It’s always a great feeling to say, ‘Hey, still at this age, I can contribute at a high level.”
In exclusive interview with Grind City Media, Carter reflected on his legacy on and off the court.
Grind City Media: It’s the holiday season, so what are the most thankful moments of your career?
Carter: A few years ago, when a lot of people thought I was done and couldn’t do it anymore, Dallas gave me an opportunity just to continue to play. And I had a great season, which continued my career. It’s hard to pick one. But just being around great people, great teams, coaches have allowed me to be myself as far as to mentor and help guys while playing. Not a lot of coaches are comfortable with letting players do that. They feel it’s their team, so let them run their team. I’ve been fortunate enough to be around some great coaches and great players who allowed me to be me.
GCM: What’s been the key to adapting to six different NBA teams and nearly a dozen head coaches?
Carter: When I get into a new situation, just learn who and how players and coaches operate. What they’re about, what they stand for. You adjust to that personality, my approach, their approach and go from there. Everybody’s different, everybody expects different things. Once we get on the same page, it’s easy from there. That’s how I have been able to get along with players and help players get along with me. My intentions are all for the good of their success and the success of our team.
GCM: Did you ever expect to play almost 20 years?
Carter: No, absolutely not. Coming in, I had on my mind 15 years. And I still to this day don’t know why or where I got that number. I think a lot of the elite players of our time – Michael Jordan, Bird, Magic – played 12 to 14 years, maybe 15. And I thought if I could get to that, then I’m in business.
GCM: What stories will Grandpa Vince tell his grandkids about his career highlights?
Carter: I’ll definitely tell them about my Olympic experience. Hopefully, I’ll get to talk about a championship experience. I’ll also tell them about how my rookie of the year experiences were second to none playing in my first year. Of course the dunk contest in 2000. Hopefully, I’ll get to talk about a Hall of Fame experience at the end. Particularly if my grandkids or kids are looking to play basketball, hopefully I can share stories about adjusting, adapting, whatever the situation may be. I have a story for everything, because I’ve been around long enough.
GCM: Has it sank in yet, all that you’re accomplishing as you wind down your career?
Carter: The milestone part of it is always special. I think it doesn’t sink in now as well as it will later on as I unwind and think of some of the guys you’re being named with, who we consider the greatest of all time. Of course, Michael Jordan. You think of some of the durable players of our time, like a Charles Oakley for games played or an A.C. Green. I have a lot of respect because I’ve played against these guys. I respect them more than the average young guy in this league because I know what they’ve done and some of the things they don’t get credit for. So to put my name in there is amazing. It’s a great feeling.
GCM: My favorite Vince Carter moment was when you went back to the graduation ceremony at the University of North Carolina the morning of Game 7 of a playoff game in 2001.
Carter: I come from a family of educators, so what they’re all about is being a true student-athlete. Because I’m in a professional sports business, it didn’t change anything. I learned to accomplish that goal. That was a goal of mine coming out of college early, heck, going into college as a freshman. That’s what we talked about. I was going to do that regardless if it ruffled feathers or not.
GCM: Looking back on it, you missed a potential game-winning shot in the Raptors’ loss in that Game 7 to the 76ers. Were you prepared for some of the criticism you received for attending the graduation?
Carter:Not at all. Because I went through all of the steps that we felt made sense. I went to every player on my team and presented what I was going to do. And everybody didn’t have a problem. And the next morning, some of those players had a problem with it. And then when it got out to the world, others had a problem with it. But, you know, I would do it again. It’s important to me.
GCM: Does that decision make you more proud each day?
Carter: Every day. That degree is in my office at home and I walk by it every single day. I’m thankful for that decision every day because it’s a decision I made and I thought it was the right decision. I hope if I get to tell that story again and again, it will transcend to some other young athlete to do the same. Yes, this is forever money that is just temporary work. This is a platform for the rest of my life. Some of us are retiring at 32 or 33 and thinking we have it all. But when you’re in the real world, you’re not dealing with that same level of money. I learned at an early age, OK make it, but also learn how to keep it.
GCM: Is that the message you share in efforts as an ambassador to Grizzlies Prep school?
Carter: That’s what our foundation was built upon – believe in your dream and help young kids find their dream and then learn how to achieve it. I met these kids at Grizz Prep, and I was like, ‘How can I be a part of this?’ There are young, black and minority kids. I got a chance to talk to them and asked them questions. I got a chance to ask two or three of these kids, ‘Do you feel like coming to Grizz Prep now has changed your life?’ And to hear their answers, I was like, ‘Oh wow. I was sold more from their answers than from the Principal’s. It was amazing and I wanted to be a part of it.
GCM: You once said you were thankful just to be in position to give back after all you’ve received.
Carter: For sure. I’m definitely thankful for being in this position to play the game for this long, to accomplish so many things. Who can say that they’re one of 24 players all time to score 24,000 points? I look at the list and I’m like, ‘Damn. This is a Who’s Who in the Hall of Fame, the greatest ever. And I’m on that list. That’s one part of it. But the other part of it is, I want to help this school or I want to help these kids. And then to see the reaction from people when they see that you’re on board with them, it’s amazing. For as much as they talk about the young black kid or black athlete who is not educated or don’t want to be educated, you have the other side over here who are doing something about it and doing positive work. You can show these young kids that, ‘Hey, it’s OK to want to be an educated black man.’ Don’t get me wrong. It’s not just about the young black kids. It’s about kids in general. But why not the young black kids as well? I don’t want kids to always use where they come from as an excuse. It’s a lot of people who have come from nothing and are doing pretty darn well.