ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 4: Vince Carter #15 of the Atlanta Hawks calls out to teammates during the fourth quarter of a game against the Indiana Pacers at State Farm Arena on January 4, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Vince Carter became the first NBA player to play in four different decades when the Hawks played the Pacers Saturday. The 42-year-old is the oldest active player in the league and the only person to play in the 1990’s, 2000’s, 2010’s and 2020’s.
A reporter for AJC.com asked Carter what his emotions were following his accomplishment. Carter started to speak before being interrupted by Hawks’ teammate Trae Young. “Damn, four decades?! That’s crazy,” Young joked. “That’s legendary. I’m blessed to be able to share a locker room and have that veteran presence around me. You guys see his locker is always right by mine. It’s something I don’t take for granted. It’s special for me to be able to play with him.”
Carter finally responded, “And then you have the little loud mouth guy that just left here, Trae,” Carter said. “As much as I talk to people and handshake former teammates that are now GMs, coaches, whatever they are, I can say I played against Michael Jordan and now I’m playing (with) the Trae Youngs, and all the stars of today. I’m just very thankful to still be around and compete at this level.”
Carter joined the league in 1998. Originally drafted number five overall by Golden State, the Warriors traded his rights to the Toronto Raptors. He played in Toronto for six years before being traded during the 2004-05 season to New Jersey. From 2000 to 2007 he was an NBA All Star, and averaged double digits in scoring for the first 18 years of his career.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.
SLIDESHOW: GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019
The man referred to as “Vinsanity” and “Half man, half amazing” has garnered attention across the world for his athleticism and highlight dunks. Most famously he is known for the “dunk of death” in the 2000 Sydney Olympics where he literally jumped over France’s 7’2 center, Frederic Weis. He is also credited with revamping the dunk contest which he won during all-star weekend in 2000. Carter showcased his 360 windmill dunk that became his signature.
“As a young kid, it was just a goal to be here. Once you get here, it’s a goal to stay here. Once I got older it’s a goal to still stay here. There are different milestones for me that have nothing to do with scoring. There are a bunch of 40-year-olds who have played in this league, but I want to be a 40-year-old still contributing, still competing,” Carter told the media.
Atlanta is the seventh team he’s played for and Carter had previously announced this is his last season.
With their big three finally back in action Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers suffered another setback…
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tny--EWynOQ Nike paid tribute to Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal with a 10-meter-tall animated display…
https://youtu.be/dtJoJz9hC48 Tennis legend Rafael Nadal bid a heartfelt goodbye to his devoted Spanish fans as he brought…
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DQ9Rxhnuer4 U.S. Olympic fencer Eli Dershwitz shed light on the critical skills necessary in fencing…
Two offensive linemen for the Chicago Bears returned to practice, a massive step in the…
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/s2g9t_33Myw President-elect Donald Trump received a warm welcome from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Jon…