Highlights From Vince Carter’s Raptors-Heavy HOF Enshrinement

Carter also thanked his cousin, fellow Hall of Fame wing Tracy McGrady.

After being drafted, Carter played alongside McGrady with the Raptors for two seasons. Interestingly, Carter says that McGrady promised to get the Raptors to draft him. McGrady, as many know, got off to a slower start than Carter. Nonetheless, he was a top-10 pick. He just might have had enough juice to nudge former Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald in his cousin’s direction.

In any case, family obviously means a lot to Carter. He even had one of those humorous Christmas dinner exchanges with McGrady after saying he played football growing up.

The proud father of three (two daughters and one son) also took time to include his grandparents in his speech.

Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving Speaks

If the tears Carter shed for his late grandmother (Peggy Green) didn’t take fans back to the days when he was just a kid in Florida, perhaps him admitting that he had only gotten the opportunity to meet his idol did. During his speech, he spoke about calling up Hall of Fame forward Julius Erving, who accepted the invitation to be one of his presenters.

Like Carter, Erving played for the Nets for multiple seasons. Even more importantly, there were plenty of similarities in their game, from the aerial acrobatics to the all-around production. In fact, before the Hall of Fame ceremony began, Erving told Sportsnet’s Michael Grange that Carter “could do things maybe above and beyond what the great forwards in the history of the NBA did.”

More Honors Are On The Way

As his speech came to a close, Carter repeated the words that he will now be associated with forever: “Hall of Famer.”

As one of the most memorable and recognizable players to have graced the hardwood, all that can be said is the honor is well-deserved.

Now, he can rest on his laurels while he waits for the Raptors and Nets to lift his jersey into the rafters, which will happen this season.