Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets raised Vince Carter’s No. 15 jersey into the rafters of the Barclays Center on Saturday night.
At halftime of Brooklyn’s 106-97 loss to the Miami Heat, the team held a ceremony honoring Carter’s legacy with the team.
SportsCenter @SportsCenter
Vince Carter’s No. 15 officially goes up in Brooklyn 🔥 <a href=”https://t.co/HvGIN8UMaf”>pic.twitter.com/HvGIN8UMaf</a>
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Vince Carter’s finally getting his flowers 💐<br><br>-Oct 2024: Inducted into Naismith HOF<br>-Nov 2024: Raptors jersey retired<br>-Jan 2025: Nets jersey retired<br><br>Well deserved for Half Man, Half Amazing 🐐 <a href=”https://t.co/v5DF7JgrEa”>pic.twitter.com/v5DF7JgrEa</a>
Brooklyn Nets @BrooklynNets
Introducing No. 15, VINCE CARTER! 🗣️ <a href=”https://t.co/Dj77qaUVib”>pic.twitter.com/Dj77qaUVib</a>
“This is truly something my family and I will cherish forever,” Carter said, via the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). “To be the seventh number to go up is insane. It is an honor to be up there with you gentlemen.”
The eight-time All-Star spent parts of five years of his career with the Nets during their days in New Jersey.
The past few months have been eventful for Carter, as he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Oct. 2024 and had his jersey retired by the Toronto Raptors the following month.
Carter’s family, his former teammates, ex-coach Lawrence Frank, team president Rod Thorn and fellow Nets legends Julius Erving, Bill Melchionni and Buck Williams were present at the ceremony (via ESPN).
Carter represented the Nets in three All-Star games, while they also made the playoffs in three seasons throughout his tenure with the team. He became the seventh player to have his number retired by the organization.
In 374 games with the Nets, Carter averaged 23.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 37 percent from behind the arc.
He ranks No. 3 on the team’s all-time scoring list, while his 1,762 assists are the sixth-most in franchise history.
Carter also routinely stepped up in the playoffs, helping the Nets make a pair of Eastern Conference semifinals appearances. In 27 postseason contests with the team, he averaged 26.0 points and 7.1 rebounds to go along with 5.4 assists per game.
While Carter’s time with the Nets was brief compared to other players with their numbers retired, his impact on the organization was evident and he was recognized for it on Saturday.
