Magic Exit Interviews: Vince Carter Quotes
Vince Carter:
On this season:
“We didn’t accomplish our goal but all in all it was a very special season where we accomplished a lot and it gives us something to build on. Going into next year, it is not like we are going to be starting over and having to build trust. I think we all understand what needs to be done and what can be done with the people we have. I think it was a very good season. We accomplished a lot and were able to come together as a unit with a lot of new guys and we made a nice run. But, we didn’t accomplish our goal.”
On what he will do this summer to rest his body:
“Nothing special. I’m not a big travel guy so I don’t do the island thing. I will probably be home just sitting around and will be here more than likely. In the past, when I would get home, I would enjoy this wonderful weather and enjoy being back home so now that I am here, I will probably be up here. I always have my functions and my golf tournaments. I enjoy doing my basketball camps. I get an opportunity to do my basketball camp here in Orlando for the first time so I am excited about that. Those are some of things that are close to me that I enjoy doing so I definitely plan on doing that and I look forward to it.”
On how he balances having a good season but not a great season:
“I have an appreciation for what we have accomplished. It was a lot of firsts for me this year but nothing would be sweeter than winning that first title.”
On what the high point of the season was for him:
“Accomplishing the 50-plus wins and making it to the Conference Finals. Those were some things I have never done and they were exciting for me.”
On how important it is to keep this nucleus together:
“We want to be together. This is a very close-knit group and we are very supportive on and off the court. That is one thing you don’t see often. We’ve had a lot of events this season and to see the support from the guys is just amazing and that makes you have an appreciation for the guys that you play with. I think that our off-the-court camaraderie has carried on to the court and I think that is what it is so disappointing. We wanted to win for each other. This is one of the closest, if not the closest, groups I have ever played with.”
On wanting to win the series:
“I think everybody wanted to get the job done for each other because of the appreciation we have for each other. When we stepped on the court each and every night, we were trying to get it done for the good of our team, not for ourselves.”
On playing this past year at home:
“It’s pretty darn good. For 11 years, I’ve had to go home and pack so now I just have to go home. It is a pretty good feeling.”
On living up to his past:
“It is not a distraction at all. In my background, I’ve come from teams where it is team-first and I’ve always been that way. I’ve had the opportunity to be the leader in Toronto where if I didn’t play well, the team could possibly go in to the tank but great things don’t happen without your team and this has been the opportunity I’ve wanted for a number of years. To play on a team where if need be, I can put up the big numbers. But playing on a great team where everybody is capable is what every player dreams for and wants the opportunity to have because that is how you win championships.”
On if he can do whatever he wants to do with his body at his age:
“You always have to make adjustments but at the same time I am going to continue to do some of the things that I still know how to do. Some things are a little more challenging now. You probably won’t ever catch me putting my arm in the rim again or trying it but I am still able to do pretty much some of the things I want to do when I want to do it.”
On Stan Van Gundy’s comments about Boston coming out with more energy:
“What he said to you was something we’ve heard already. All I will be doing is echoing in the mirror what he has been saying. We understood that and that is why Game 4 was very important to us was because of the fact that they came out like they wanted it and we didn’t. That was a wake-up call for us.”
On if the bar is set too high for the Magic:
“That is where we want to be. That is where we expect to be. This franchise has now set the bar so the expectations are up there. We want to win championships and that is what comes with it. Are we able to win championships is the question. We’ve done a great job in doing so and now we just have to get over that hump.”
“We didn’t accomplish our goal but all in all it was a very special season where we accomplished a lot and it gives us something to build on. Going into next year, it is not like we are going to be starting over and having to build trust. I think we all understand what needs to be done and what can be done with the people we have. I think it was a very good season. We accomplished a lot and were able to come together as a unit with a lot of new guys and we made a nice run. But, we didn’t accomplish our goal.”
On what he will do this summer to rest his body:
“Nothing special. I’m not a big travel guy so I don’t do the island thing. I will probably be home just sitting around and will be here more than likely. In the past, when I would get home, I would enjoy this wonderful weather and enjoy being back home so now that I am here, I will probably be up here. I always have my functions and my golf tournaments. I enjoy doing my basketball camps. I get an opportunity to do my basketball camp here in Orlando for the first time so I am excited about that. Those are some of things that are close to me that I enjoy doing so I definitely plan on doing that and I look forward to it.”
On how he balances having a good season but not a great season:
“I have an appreciation for what we have accomplished. It was a lot of firsts for me this year but nothing would be sweeter than winning that first title.”
On what the high point of the season was for him:
“Accomplishing the 50-plus wins and making it to the Conference Finals. Those were some things I have never done and they were exciting for me.”
On how important it is to keep this nucleus together:
“We want to be together. This is a very close-knit group and we are very supportive on and off the court. That is one thing you don’t see often. We’ve had a lot of events this season and to see the support from the guys is just amazing and that makes you have an appreciation for the guys that you play with. I think that our off-the-court camaraderie has carried on to the court and I think that is what it is so disappointing. We wanted to win for each other. This is one of the closest, if not the closest, groups I have ever played with.”
On wanting to win the series:
“I think everybody wanted to get the job done for each other because of the appreciation we have for each other. When we stepped on the court each and every night, we were trying to get it done for the good of our team, not for ourselves.”
On playing this past year at home:
“It’s pretty darn good. For 11 years, I’ve had to go home and pack so now I just have to go home. It is a pretty good feeling.”
On living up to his past:
“It is not a distraction at all. In my background, I’ve come from teams where it is team-first and I’ve always been that way. I’ve had the opportunity to be the leader in Toronto where if I didn’t play well, the team could possibly go in to the tank but great things don’t happen without your team and this has been the opportunity I’ve wanted for a number of years. To play on a team where if need be, I can put up the big numbers. But playing on a great team where everybody is capable is what every player dreams for and wants the opportunity to have because that is how you win championships.”
On if he can do whatever he wants to do with his body at his age:
“You always have to make adjustments but at the same time I am going to continue to do some of the things that I still know how to do. Some things are a little more challenging now. You probably won’t ever catch me putting my arm in the rim again or trying it but I am still able to do pretty much some of the things I want to do when I want to do it.”
On Stan Van Gundy’s comments about Boston coming out with more energy:
“What he said to you was something we’ve heard already. All I will be doing is echoing in the mirror what he has been saying. We understood that and that is why Game 4 was very important to us was because of the fact that they came out like they wanted it and we didn’t. That was a wake-up call for us.”
On if the bar is set too high for the Magic:
“That is where we want to be. That is where we expect to be. This franchise has now set the bar so the expectations are up there. We want to win championships and that is what comes with it. Are we able to win championships is the question. We’ve done a great job in doing so and now we just have to get over that hump.”
