Vince Carter's No. 15 jersey retired by Toronto Raptors in mid-game ceremony
CTV
Vince Carter hoped Toronto Raptors fans could embrace his complicated legacy with the team during his jersey retirement ceremony. They did not let him down.
Vince Carter hoped Toronto Raptors fans could embrace his complicated legacy with the team during his jersey retirement ceremony.
They did not let him down.
All 19,800 fans at Scotiabank Arena stood for the entirety of the 20-minute ceremony on Saturday night during the intermission of Toronto's game with the Sacramento Kings. Carter spoke directly to the fans in the arena and those watching at home during his brief speech before the purple banner was raised to the venue's rafters.
"When that jersey goes up shortly, it's not just Carter 15 going up, it's all of us going up," said Carter to loud cheers. "The memories that had been created for six years, however you view it, go up tonight.
"So I hope and pray we enjoy our jersey being retired forever."
Carter was joined by family and former teammates for the on-court ceremony MCed by TV broadcaster Matt Devlin. Former Raptors Jerome Williams, Dee Brown, Kevin Williams, Muggsy Bogues, Antonio Davis, Alvin Williams, Morris Peterson, Charles Oakley and Tracy McGrady — Carter's cousin and a fellow Hall of Famer — all watched on from chairs set up on the floor.
A video that featured Alvin Williams, former Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald, Kings forward DeMar DeRozan, Philadelphia 76ers guard Kyle Lowry, former Toronto play-by-play man Chuck Swirsky, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson, Raptors superfan Nav Bhatia, Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry, Toronto all-star Scottie Barnes, Carter's mother, wife, and children, as well as Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum played at the start of the ceremony to congratulate Carter.
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