Vinsanity is back.
With Vince Carter in town to celebrate the rededication of a basketball court in north Etobicoke that his foundation built back in his heyday, the Raptors have put up Carter jerseys all around Toronto.
The memorable jerseys — the purple and black one Carter sported when he won one of the most iconic NBA slam dunk contests ever in 2000 — have been spotted at various locations, with the Raptors supplying photos of some of the placements.
The most striking shot might be of a Carter jersey hanging at the Princes’ Gates at Exhibition Place. There are also photos of one at Ripley’s Aquarium, at Union Station, some on corporate buildings, a mall and more.
All of this is to foreshadow the franchise’s decision to make Carter, its first superstar, the first Raptor to have his jersey retired.
TSN first reported the news of the October ceremony earlier this week, and the team has been dropping hints ever since that it would probably become official with Carter in town. On Thursday, the Raptors tweeted a list of all the players who have had jerseys retired by two NBA franchises. They left the 15th spot blank — Carter wore No. 15 in Toronto. The Brooklyn Nets previously announced plans to retire Carter’s jersey as well.
Carter, 47, will be enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame next month. He’ll be introduced by former Raptors teammate Tracy McGrady, who already is in the Hall, and by Julius Erving, the man he wanted to succeed Glen Grunwald as Raptors general manager. Had that happened, Carter’s messy exit would likely not have happened.
The Dixon Park court was first refurbished by Carter’s Embassy of Hope Foundation in 2003. This December will mark 20 years since Carter was dealt to the New Jersey Nets in the worst trade in franchise history and one of the worst in the NBA ever.
The MLSE Foundation and City of Toronto spent $1 million to fix up and improve the Dixon Park courts, adding the Raptors North Legacy Courts.
Carter, team president Masai Ujiri, and City of Toronto and MLSE officials were expected to be on hand for the rededication ceremony later Friday, along with some Raptors players and community youth.