Atlanta Hawks veteran forward Vince Carter has been on the record saying he doesn't want a farewell tour this season.
Carter is about to play an NBA-record 22nd season in 2019-20. The former high-flyer knows he's going to get serenaded with love from fans everywhere, but Carter is still going to be uncomfortable being in the spotlight when the focus should be on the Hawks as a team.
“I’m very appreciative of that, and I know how it works, and I get it, but I guess subconsciously I don’t want people to think I’m coming here to be at the forefront, to make it about me,” Carter said, via Sarah K. Spencer of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I don’t want that to be what this is about.
“I’m struggling with it. Realizing the end is near is probably the biggest problem. It’s like, I’ve come so far, this is it. Do what you’ve got to do. But it’s like, I’ve done this for so long. So many years. So you mean, come September, I don’t have to get ready for basketball and go to my team anymore? That’s the scary feeling, after 22 years.”
Vince Carter entered the league back in 1998 with the Toronto Raptors. He has career averages of 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 1,481 games with the Raptors, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and Hawks.
Carter averaged 7.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 2018-19 with the Hawks. He shot 41.9 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from beyond the arc and 71.2 percent from the free-throw line.
Whether he likes it or not, Carter is going to get standing ovations from road arenas next season. After all, fans want to pay homage to an NBA legend.
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