Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter lived a lot of things together. Being cousins and playing for the same team made them very close, so much that Vinsanity convinced T-Mac to participate in the legendary 2000 Slam Dunk Contest.
Carter is considered the greatest dunker of all time by many people, and that competition put him on another level regarding his status as an NBA star. Vince, however, tried to help his cousin when that tournament took place.
Talking with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles on The Players’ Tribune’s Knuckleheads, Tracy McGrady recalled the previous process for the contest and how Vince tried to convince him to participate, only to steal the show when everything started. T-Mac remembers very well that people felt sorry for the player who had to dunk after Carter made a 360 windmill.
“Nah, it wasn’t like that. He had to convince me, and I’m talking about probably to the last hour. I’m like, “cuz, why the hell am I getting in this dunk contest if you’re in it? Boy, we know what’s gonna happen. Like, I’m not for losing.” He was like, ‘come on, man, it’ll be good exposure for you.” And this and that. [I said], “but I’m with you every day, I see what you can do. I can’t do that.” “Man, you’re underestimating yourself, cuz. You can, man. You creative.”
“I’m creative, but that s–t you on… That first dunk set the tone. That 360 windmill. Man, I didn’t know he was about to do that. Boy, when he did that dunk, everybody looked at Jerry Stackhouse. He was next. Everybody looked at Jerry Stackhouse like, “good luck, brother.”
“Why the hell am I getting in this dunk contest if you’re in it?” 🤣
This is the question Tracy McGrady asked @mrvincecarter15 before taking the floor in the most iconic dunk contest.
🎥: https://t.co/ZyWXxhSVbO pic.twitter.com/1ykWFm3JoS
— The Players’ Tribune (@PlayersTribune) March 16, 2022
This was one of the greatest Slam Dunk Contests in history. We saw big players going at it for the trophy, but Carter was just unstoppable at the time. His dunks are still iconic and every fan and player who enjoys dunks know how great the Toronto Raptors legend was. He won that tournament, of course, leaving incredible dunks for eternity. T-Mac did some good things, but in the end, he just went to the tournament to have good seats when his cousin stole the show.
