Speaking to co-hosts Kent Bazemore and Annie Finberg in the latest episode of his “Winging It” podcast, Vince Carter confirmed that he intends to continue his playing career into the 2019/20 season (hat tip to Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).
“Yeah, I’m coming back,” Carter said during a discussion about Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki, who each called it a career at the end of the 2018/19 season.
Asked by Finberg if he’ll return to the Hawks, Carter said, “I would like to. We’ll see what happens.”
Assuming Carter re-signs with Atlanta or catches on with a new team and appears in at least one game next season, he’ll become the first player in NBA history to play for 22 seasons, breaking the record that he and Nowitzki tied this season. Robert Parish, Kevin Willis, and Kevin Garnett also had 21-year NBA careers.
Despite turning 42 in January, Carter continued to be a productive rotation player in Atlanta this season, averaging 7.4 PPG and 2.6 RPG with a .419/.389/.712 shooting line in 76 games (17.5 MPG) for the Hawks. Head coach Lloyd Pierce also praised the veteran swingman for helping to create a “different atmosphere” in the Hawks’ locker room.
Carter will be an unrestricted free agent in July.
Keep on playing Vince!
That’s great
Love this!
He’s the NBA’s Keith Richards…you know, minus the drugs.
Get ‘em Hawks!
It’s odd that Carter was never high up in MVP voting– he peaked at #10 early in his career. Meanwhile, cousin and fellow Raptor Tracy Mcgrady rose as high as #4 and is in th HOF and I think Carter was better!
Agree/disagree? Was it the UNC graduation thing? I did not follow either closely.
Comparing through 2012, McGrady’s last year, with McGrady starting out of HS one year earlier, they’re about the same. I was surprised to see McGrady pretty good on defense.
He got off to a good start in Toronto, but after his rookie contract (?) they traded him for a distant r1 pick to a middling team and he was an allstar his first year in Orlando. Looks dumb.
link to bkref.com
Vince was very good, a real star of the league… but for me T-Mac was way better, a true superstar, He was a bit like LBJ, could do everything on the court, a true legend. Enjoyed always watching him, specially in his Orlando years when he was healthy was totally unplayable!!!
I don’t recall him, so I can’t argue… he never won a playoff series. If he stays in Toronto, they’re a contender.
Wiki says Mcgrady wanted out of Toronto & left as a FA. The transaction log says the trade was in August (at apparently discounted value). Maybe he forced his way out somehow… CBA rules were different then.