Posted on by

A look back at Vince Carter’s Hall of Fame career: Stats, teams, timeline and more about the NBA legend

A look back at Vince Carter’s Hall of Fame career: Stats, teams, timeline and more about the NBA legend

Four years after his final NBA game, Vince Carter will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

For those who have followed Carter’s career, the enshrinement shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. After taking the basketball world by storm in his rookie year, Carter quickly rose to superstardom and was one of the NBA’s most popular players for several years after the turn of the century.

As Carter prepares to be immortalized in basketball history in Springfield, here is a look back at his accomplishments, from his early days as a rising star to his final years as one of the game’s most respected veterans.

MORE: Vince Carter’s emotional reaction to Hall of Fame selection

When was Vince Carter drafted?

Carter was selected fifth overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1998 NBA Draft. He was then traded to the Toronto Raptors along with cash for the No. 4 overall pick, Antawn Jamison.

SN’s NBA Headquarters: Live NBA scores | Updated NBA Rankings | Complete NBA schedule

When did Vince Carter retire?

Carter retired after the 2019–20 NBA season at the age of 43. He played his last game on March 11, 2020, the same night the NBA season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

How many teams did Vince Carter play for?

Carter played for eight teams during his NBA career. He started with the Raptors and spent his final season with the Hawks.

Here’s a look at the timeline of Carter’s 22-year career:

Season(s) teams games
1998-2004 Toronto Raptors 403
2004-09 New Jersey Nets 374
2009-2010 Orlando magic 97
2010-11 Phoenix Suns 51
2011-14 Dallas Mavericks 223
2014-17 Memphis Grizzlies 199
2017-18 Sacramento Kings 58
2018-2020 Atlanta Hawks 136

MORE: Where Vince Carter ranks on the list of greatest Raptors of all time

Why is Vince Carter in the Hall of Fame?

Carter’s Hall of Fame case is compelling.

In a record-breaking 22 seasons, Carter earned eight All-Star selections and two All-NBA nominations. He is the first superstar in the history of the Raptors franchise and has had a lasting impact on basketball in Canada.

MORE: Lenny Wilkens reflects on the Vince Carter-led Raptors team that won the first playoff series in team history

Carter retired after scoring 25,728 points and is currently ranked 21st on the NBA’s all-time points list. Only 25 players in league history have scored more than 25,000 points and every eligible retired player on this list has been inducted into the Hall.

At his peak, Carter was one of the NBA’s best players and has a claim to being the greatest in-game dunker of all time. Carter’s performance at the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest set the gold standard for dunk contest performances and is one of the most iconic moments of his career.

Over the course of his career, Carter smoothly transitioned from a bona fide superstar to a solid rotation player and later to a seasoned veteran who saw limited time in rebuilding teams.

Carter had one of the most unique careers in NBA history and was a first-ballot inductee into the Hall of Fame.

MORE: Why Vince Carter will be the first Raptors player to have his jersey retired

Vince Carter career stats and awards

Over the course of 22 seasons, Carter accumulated numerous counting statistics that continued to contribute to his career tally in his later years.

Vince Carter NBA Stats

Stat In total
Seasons 22
games 1,541
Points 25,728
Points per game 16.7
rebounds 6,606
rebounds per game 4.3
Supports 4,714
Assists per game 3.1
Steals 1,530
Steals per game 1.0
Blocks 888
Blocks per game 0.6

Vince Carter NBA Awards

  • 1998-99 Rookie of the Year
  • 1998-99 All-Rookie First Team
  • 1999-00 All-NBA Third Team
  • Champion of the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest
  • 2000-01 Second Team All-NBA
  • 8x NBA All-Star (2000-07)

Vince Carter College Stats, Awards

In his three seasons at UNC, Carter improved each year, winning All-American honors as a junior before forgoing the NBA Draft last year.

Stat In total
Seasons 3
games 103
Points per game 12.3
rebounds per game 4.5
Assists per game 1.9
  • 2x All ACC
  • 1997-98 consensus All-American
  • 2x NCAA tournament in all regions

Vince Carter Career Earnings

According to Spotrac, Carter earned $171.9 million in his 22 seasons in the NBA. His most lucrative season was the 2010-11 season, where he earned $17.5 million with the Suns.