All Is Right With The World After Vince Carter Confirms He's Entering The Hall Of Fame As A Raptor

David Dow. Getty Images.

Over the weekend, we saw Vince Carter, Chauncey Billups, Michael Cooper, Seimone Augustus and Doug Collins all be inducted into basketball heaven at the Hall Of Fame. Some were no-brainers (Vince), some took a few tries to ultimately get in (Billups & Cooper), but there's no denying each player had their own unique imprint on the game and the league during their tenure.

For me, the big one here was Vince Carter. While he never did win that elusive ring, if you're around my age then you know how influential Vince Carter was to not just an entire franchise, but the sport as a whole. So once we found out he was getting into the HOF, I wondered what he would go in as. It's not like he had the best ending/relationship with the Raptors and he played nearly the same amount of games in his career as a Net, so I didn't consider one option to be a lock other the other.

Well, we got our answer and in my opinion, it's the only choice

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No offense to the Nets, Mavs, Grizzlies, Magic, Hawks, Kings or Suns, but this is the only choice when it comes to Vince Carter. When you think of VC, you think of the Raptors. Plain and simple. Perhaps since it's been so long since their breakup that time has healed all wounds, the Raptors announced they are making Carter the first Raptor ever with his number retired, so to me this was the only move. No split hats, none of that bullshit. 

He's certainly not the first Raptors legend in the HOF (Bosh, TMac), but I'm not sure either of those guys had the connection and influence on the franchise and city quite like Vince Carter did which is why it's awesome he decided to go into the Hall as a Raptor. It just feels right. I would argue that Vince Carter was their first true superstar and it wouldn't have hit the same had he gone in under any other team. I know he demanded his way out. I know he then immediately lied about that. I know there was some rough patches in their relationship over the years, but that's all water under the bridge at this point. 

I'm always a sap for the HOF speeches (DWade's is still one of the best I've ever heard), and maybe it's because this was a player from my era growing up, but seeing Vince Carter get inducted was a crazy experience as a fan

I imagine the same is going to be true once we get to the 2026 Class and we have guys like Melo officially being added to the eligible list. We really are getting old as shit.

It only feels right we end a Vince Carter HOF blog with what he's probably most known for, plus it's Monday and you definitely don't want to be working right now. Enjoy.