"I never imagined myself playing so long". Landed on the floors of the American basketball league at the end of the last century, Vince Carter did not return from entering the history of the NBA thanks to his longevity. The 42-year-old who had been drafted by the Toronto Raptors in the summer of 1998 before making his big debut at 21 the following winter, therefore sullied his impressive career. He now pursues her with the Atlanta Hawks, with whom he took part in the success against Indiana Sunday (116-111).
A meeting which thus makes him enter the legend of American basketball, and at the end of which Vince Carter did not hide his emotion but also his astonishment: "I saw a photo of one of my former teammates named Hakeem Olajuwon ( Editor's note: 56 years old today) and another with Trae Young (Editor's note: 21 years old and current partner) . I have spoken to so many people, shaken so many hands from former partners who have become general managers, coaches or whatever ... said in particular to Yahoo Sports the one who scored three points, took three rebounds and made a pass in 18 minutes of play against the Pacers. I'm probably even more competitive today because I know the end is near. But I never imagined myself playing so long. I was gone for fifteen years and I'm still here with seven more seasons on the clock. It's an incredible feeling. "
From Michael Jordan to LeBron James, then Luka Doncic
Named rookie of the year 1999 for his debut - despite strong competition in this 1998 draft which notably saw the emergence of Paul Pierce and Dirk Nowitzki -, Vince Carter was elected the following year to the All-Star Game, during which he won the famous dunks competition, still considered one of the most beautiful in history.
In 2000 in Sydney, he then won the Olympic title with Team USA. During the group stage against the French team, Carter left a lasting impression and traumatized Frédéric Weis with a monstrous and humiliating dunk on the 2.18 m three-color pivot. It is also then against these same Blues that the Americans won the gold medal in the final (85-75).
After these smashing debuts, Vince Carter then regularly changed the franchise - New Jersey Nets (2004-2009), Orlando Magic (2009-2010), Phoenix Suns (2010-2011), Dallas Mavericks (2011-2014 ), Grizzlies of Memphis (2014-2017), Kings of Sacramento (2017-2018) and therefore Atlanta - without winning the supreme title or even reaching the NBA finals. He was nonetheless elected All-Star continuously between 2001 and 2007.
If he has not moved for several seasons now at this level, Vince Carter is now a legend of American sport, he who has crossed so many others on the floors. From Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon or Charles Barkley in the late 1990s, to Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan or Kobe Bryant in the 2000s, then LeBron James, Kevin Durant or Stephen Curry in the 2010s. is facing future big league players, like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Luka Doncic, whom he speaks of his long experience in the game.