Vince Carter is among the 13 individuals set to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024 on Sunday and Michael Jordan congratulated him on the incredible accomplishment.
“Congratulations man,” Jordan said.
“Congratulations man.”
Michael Jordan to #24HoopClass inductee, Vince Carter 🤝🔥 pic.twitter.com/WCshExyfGk
— NBA (@NBA) October 13, 2024
Carter was officially announced as part of the 2024 class on April 6, 2024. Making it in with the 47-year-old are Chauncey Billups, Michael Cooper, Walter Davis, Bo Ryan, Charles Smith, Seimone Augustus, Dick Barnett, Harley Redin, Michele Timms, Doug Collins, Herb Simon, and Jerry West.
The enshrinement ceremonies were initially supposed to be held on August 16-17 but were moved to October 12-13 due to a busy summer schedule, highlighted by the 2024 Olympics. I’d say the additional wait was worth it.
In all, though, Carter didn’t have to wait all that long to make it in as he is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He first shone on the national stage during his time with the University of North Carolina, helping the Tar Heels reach the Final Four in 1997 and 1998.
Carter’s exploits at UNC led to him being drafted with the fifth pick of the 1998 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, who traded him to the Toronto Raptors on draft night itself. He would go on to have a tremendous influence on Canadian basketball and could well take some credit for Canada being somewhat of a powerhouse today.
Carter ended up playing a record 22 seasons in the NBA and averaged 16.7 points 4.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game in that time. He won Rookie of the Year in 1999 and the Slam Dunk Contest in 2000. The high-flyer also made eight All-Star teams and two All-NBA teams.
While Carter never won a championship in the NBA, he did win a gold medal with Team USA in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. During that Olympics, he delivered arguably the most memorable dunk of his career when he jumped over 7’2″ Frederic Weis and slammed it in.
Carter is also set to be honored by the Raptors and the Brooklyn Nets in the coming months, with both franchises announcing that they’ll be retiring his No. 15 jersey. The Raptors will do so on Nov. 12, 2024, with the Nets following suit on Jan. 25, 2024.
Someone else who has had their jersey retired by two teams is Jordan, with the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat giving him that honor. The jersey retirement by two teams is not the only similarity when it comes to these two either, as they both played for UNC, with Jordan leading the Tar Heels to the national title in 1982.
These two will also be linked forever after Carter famously gave Jordan his starting spot in the 2003 All-Star Game. It was the Bulls icon’s final season in the league and it was a great way to honor him.
Following his final retirement, Jordan was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice. The first time was in 2009 for his individual career and he made it again a year later as part of the 1992 Dream Team.
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